Aid for quake victims

JAKARTA: The government promised more assistance yesterday for thousands of quake victims in Jambi.

Minister of Social Services Inten Soeweno said that the government will help the victims rebuild the houses that were damaged or destroyed by the earthquake measuring 7 on the Richter scale.

Inten declined to mention the amount of money, saying: "Surely we will not completely rebuild their houses and we hope they will not hope for too much from the government," she said after meeting with Vice President Try Sutrisno.

The latest statistics available at the ministry show that about 7,000 houses were badly damaged and about 10,000 others only slightly. More than 80 people were killed in the disaster. (pan)