Government disburses Aceh refugee funds

Government disburses Aceh refugee funds

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: Until July this year, the government has
distributed meal allowances worth Rp 145.337 billion (US$15.1
million) for displaced persons in Aceh in the aftermath of the
earthquake and tsunami disaster here in December last year.

The allowances have been distributed since March for tsunami
victims in 20 regencies and municipalities across Aceh, said
Hanif Asmara, chief of the Aceh social welfare office.

The tsunami disaster in December last year killed some 129,000
people in Aceh province alone and forced hundreds of thousands
others to seek refuge in safer places.

The largest numbers of recipients were in Aceh Besar regency
who received allowances valued at some Rp 23 billion. A large
number of displaced people are located in this regency. -- Antara