ABRI to build houses for quake victims
ABRI to build houses for quake victims
JAKARTA (JP): Members of the Armed Forces (ABRI) will be deployed to rebuild 998 houses damaged in the recent major earthquake and tidal waves at Biak Numfor and Manokwari districts, Irian Jaya.
Minister of Social Services Inten Suweno told the press after a limited ministerial meeting here yesterday that her office provides Rp 1 million (approximately US$430) for the construction of each house, while the Ministry of Forestry provides wood.
She also said each soldier deployed would be paid Rp 1,000 plus 400 grams of rice per day.
The monthly meeting was held at the office of State Minister of Population Haryono Suyono. It was attended by ministers under the coordination of Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Azwar Anas.
Inten said yesterday the death toll from the quake was 102. Another 59 were still unaccounted for, 50 people were in critical condition and 300 others sustained light injuries.
The relief aid authorities in Biak, however, said on Monday that the death toll from the quake has reached 107. Another 51 were still unaccounted for, and 56 were in critical condition.
The ministry has also allocated Rp 40 million and 40 tons of rice for victims in Biak, and another Rp 28 million plus 28 tons of rice for those in Manokwari, Inten said.
The aid is expected to meet the needs for a week. Inten's office will deliberate whether to extend the aid for another week.
Both Azwar and Inten deflected public criticism for not cutting red-tapes and sent the aid directly to victims rather than through the local administration offices first.
"That is the mechanism. The government has done its best," she said.
Difficult terrains and lack of personnel as well as shortage of transportation were the reasons why the assistance could not arrive sooner.
Meanwhile, the assistant to the Coordinating Minister of People's Welfare, Suyono Yahya, said that the government will make sure that children can resume schooling as soon as possible.
Tents will be erected and function as makeshift schools, he said.
Hundreds of school buildings were reported to have been damaged when the quake jolted Biak on Feb. 17. (01)