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)