Flows of aid to Nias delayed due to damaged roads
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)