Ambon refugees repatriated

AMBON, Maluku: The local provincial government will repatriate at least 4,000 families, who had been displaced following three years of sectarian riots.

Izaak Umarella, head of the province's social affairs office, said that 2,225 families would be sent to Southeast Maluku regency, while 1,175 others would be repatriated to Central Maluku regency, Buru island, and Ambon, as the situation had returned to normal.

He said each family would receive building materials worth Rp 4.5 million (US$503), carpentry tools worth Rp 200,000, and Rp 300,000 in cash to construct new houses.

"We will also support their cost of living for the first three months, including a transportation allowance, and provide Rp 1.25 million for each family to open their own business," Umarella said.

The government has provided Rp 54 billion to build 10,800 houses for the families who were displaced by the sectarian conflict, which ended following the Malino II peace deal last February.

Maluku province repatriated around 10,000 refugees or about 2,000 families last year. Hundreds of thousands of people were displaced during the conflict. --Antara