Sat, 11 Aug 2001

Flows of aid to Nias delayed due to damaged roads

MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): Governor T. Rizal Nurdin regretted on Friday the slow flow of aid, including food, medicines, clothes and construction materials, to the Nias flood survivors, blaming the damaged roads as the main obstacle to aid distribution.

Speaking to reporters after Friday prayers at the Medan Grand Mosque, Rizal admitted that most of the aid had yet to be distributed to needy families.

"I have written a letter to the Ministry of Resettlement and Regional Infrastructure asking for help to repair the destroyed bridges and roads leading to the devastated districts," he said.

He did not say when the letter had been sent, but said that the ministry had agreed to help.

Latest records made by the Nias disaster center on Wednesday indicated that it had collected 1,956 sacks of rice, 4,400 boxes of instant noodles, 44 boxes of used clothes and three boxes of medicine from 43 donors, both individuals and institutions.

Some families in the worst-hit district of Lahusa said they had received aid from the local administration.

Amapatro Harefa, 35, whose wife Bulukonasi Baine, 28, and four-year-old son Arjun and mother Nurisa Hulu, 55, were lost to the floodwaters, told The Jakarta Post in Lahusa that he had received the aid from the district head's office.

"I got 40 kilograms of rice, one box plus 35 packs of instant noodles and 30 eggs. As the body of my mother was discovered, I was given Rp 250,000 for the burial," he said, while repairing his makeshift house. Harefa's five other children also survived.

Enquiries made by the Post indicated that only on Thursday did former minister of national education Yahya Muhaimin donate Rp 100 million. The sum was handed over by the chairman of the Pena Foundation to the governor. Reports said that a check for Rp 200 million was also received by the disaster center.

Another Rp 100 million was also handed over by the Belawan Navy base. The U.S. government donated a total of US$25,000 in emergency funds, and the Japanese government has also donated food, medicine, clothes and other materials worth $38,000.

The cash received by the disaster center does not include the Rp 5 billion in aid from Vice President Hamzah when he visited the refugees on Tuesday.

However, disaster center coordinator S. Halawa said on Friday that the center had collected "only" Rp 1,159,450,500. "That's the amount we had received by Friday."

Other districts

According to Halawa, aid had been distributed to Lahusa residents, while flood survivors in six other districts, Gomo, Telukdalam, Lolomatua, Lolowau, Bawalato and Ananaraya had received nothing due to poor transportation.

"The roads are damaged, while it has been impossible to reach the districts by helicopter because the weather has been too bad for flying," he said. Halawa had just been appointed to replace A.A. Gulo, who had been dismissed for unspecified reasons.

Spokesman for the North Sumatra administration Sakhyan Asmara said that the governor was holding several checks that had not yet been cashed.

"The governor has been extra-careful in handling the aid. Believe us, the money will reach the needy families," Sakhyan said.

When asked about the Japanese embassy's aid, Sakhyan said it had yet to be distributed, pending the visit of the Japanese team that would survey the accident sites.

Speaking about the death toll, Halawa said that the latest records indicated 95 people were confirmed dead at 4 p.m. on Friday, although the previous toll was said to be 103.

The number of people reported missing has reached 158; however, the search-and-rescue team has reportedly left Nias.

The accuracy of the Nias disaster reports has been questioned. Sakhyan said that the inaccuracy was due to poor communications systems. (42/28/sur)