Dutch to provide more aid

AMBON, Maluku: Members of a Netherlands religious delegation met with Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina on Tuesday as part of a mission to provide more aid for the strife-torn area.

The delegation -- led by Baron F. van Tuyll -- comprised leaders of the Maluku Muslim and Christian communities residing in the Netherlands, and included the Rev. John Rutimalessy, Rev. Gilbert Boer, H. Darwis Maddoe, H. Ibrahim Lessy and Najak Tuharea.

"We are here also to see what was done with the aid that has already been provided and how the refugees are been handled after two years of conflict. We can see that the situation is now improving," van Tuyll said on Tuesday.

Governor Latuconsina explained that most of the non- governmental organizations working in Maluku were providing aid directly to the victims of violence.

"We are thinking of setting up a coordinating team to smoothen the aid distribution process," he said. (49/edt)