Govt denies favoritism in handling Jambi quake

Govt denies favoritism in handling Jambi quake

JAKARTA (JP): Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Azwar
Anas denies charges the government has been "unjust" in the
provision of relief aid to earthquake victims in Kerinci, Jambi.

Azwar said the government has set priorities in providing the
assistance due to limited resources. Top priority, he said, goes
to the worst stricken areas.

"Please don't expect that we will give equal assistance to all
stricken areas," the minister told reporters after opening a
training course on crisis management.

An earthquake measuring 7 on the open-ended Richter scale,
struck Kerinci regency in Jambi earlier this month and killed 80
people, when most people were asleep. The locals had no warning
and barely any time to flee their homes for safety.

The worst affected region was Gunung Kerinci Regency at the
foot of Mt. Kerinci, including the Air Hangat, Sitinjau Laut and
Danau Kerinci areas.

The quake destroyed more than 500 buildings -- including
houses, mosques and other public facilities such as roads,
bridges, telephone lines and electricity installations.

Many of the quake victims have charged that Jakarta has
distributed food, medical aid, clothing and building materials
unequally.

Azwar explained that the governor of Jambi is responsible for
the distribution of the relief aid that has been sent. He
acknowledged that it is difficult for Jakarta to monitor how the
assistance is distributed among the recipients.

Thirty participants from state institutions and non-
governmental organizations are taking part in the four-day
training course aimed at improving skills in handling natural
disasters.

This course is the first of its kind in Indonesia and has been
organized to improve the nation's capability to provide
assistance in the event of disasters. It also covers how
disasters can be prevented or their effects mitigated.

The course is conducted by the National Coordinating Board on
Disaster Management with participation from the United Nations
Development Program. The resident coordinator of the program in
Indonesia, who is also chairman of the United Nations Disaster
Management team, is participating in the event. (31)