Councilor calls for city flood fund

Councilor calls for city flood fund

JAKARTA (JP): A city councilor has suggested that the city
administration set up an independent body to raise funds for
flood victims.

Ary Amier Armas of the commission E for social welfare said on
Tuesday that because floods hit the city every year, "It's time
for the municipality to form a fund-raising body to help flood
victims."

Ary said that the money could then be dispatched quickly to
the victims with reduced government bureaucracy.

Currently the City Social Agency is the only institution which
dispenses aid to flood victims. However, he said, the agency has
other responsibilities such as removing beggars and prostitutes
from the streets.

"The budget for flood victims is not enough because the agency
has to divide it among its other social jobs," he said.

Ary said the money would come from the public through charity
events and ticket sales from film and airlines. In the long run,
he said, the money could go to the development of flood
prevention facilities.

"I don't think the public would object," he said.

The city administration currently has a natural disaster
budget, from which the city social agency distributes flood
relief.

However, said Ary, the fund is not enough and the city
administration needs the public's assistance.

The floods that hit most parts of the city in January and
February caused Rp 90 billion (US$40.90 million) in material
losses. (yns)