Governor seeks help feeding refugees

MAUMERE, East Nusa Tenggara: East Nusa Tenggara Governor Piet A. Tallo called on Friday for immediate aid from the central government and the United Nations to feed the thousands of East Timorese refugees in the province.

He said the local administration had limited resources to provide humanitarian aid, adding that the situation in the territory was very difficult and local residents also were suffering.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees cut off aid following the Atambua attack on Sept. 6, in which a mob killed three UN workers.

The head of the local office of the Agency of Social Affairs, Bambang Subroto, said the administration already had channeled 1,580 tons of rice to the refugees.(yac)