Frozen food aid from S. Arabia

TANGERANG (JP): Saudi Arabian Ambassador Abdullah Abdurrahman Alim on Saturday delivered an aid package of 89.9 tons of frozen meat to scavengers, orphanages and Islamic boarding schools in Greater Jakarta.

The relief, sheep meat imported from New Zealand, was directly handed over by the ambassador during a modest ceremony held at the Jam'iyyah Islamiyah Islamic boarding school in Jurang Mangu Timur village, Pondok Aren district, here.

"Indonesia is facing difficult times. Our people would like to help those who are facing problems for the sake of our long-term relationship," Alim said.

Tangerang alone is home to 430 Islamic boarding schools with some 400,000 students.

Ambassador Alim, who has held his post for seven years, hoped that the current economic turmoil which had hit many people would gradually vanish.

Also attending the ceremony was Minister of Social Affairs Justika Baharsyah, who represented the Indonesian government.

Justika expressed her deep gratitude for the donation and expected that more aid would be received from other countries because many Indonesians still needed help.

"This aid is an example of the concern to help needy people, especially fellow Muslims," Justika said.

During the ceremony, Justika revealed that her ministry had only received 0.7 percent, or about Rp 124 billion, of the government's Rp 17.7 trillion social safety net program.

"So far we (the ministry) have properly monitored and distributed the fund to six provinces," she said. (41/emf)