Food aid for Maluku refugees

Food aid for Maluku refugees

AMBON, Maluku: Local authorities began distributing on Friday
500 tons of rice aid from the local social affairs office to some
41,600 refugees in several camps in the area.

The disbursement was handled by 90 employees of the provincial
Natural Disaster Coordination Unit, the social affairs office,
the Ambon mayoralty and several non-governmental organizations.

The head of the social affairs office, Vonce Parinusa, told
Antara the first allotment of rice would be distributed to around
16,000 refugees in Passo village in the Kapahaha area, and at the
Halong Naval Base, both in Teluk Ambon Baguala district, Central
Maluku.

Each person will receive 400 grams of rice daily during the
month, he said.

He added that other staple foods would follow the rice aid,
but did not say when this additional aid would be distributed.
(lup)