Indonesia sends rice to relieve Kenyan famine

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian has sent some 100 tons of rice to help relieve a four-year famine currently afflicting Kenya.

A ship carrying the aid left Tanjung Priok harbor on Sunday and is expected to arrive at the port of Mombasa, Kenya on May 7, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Monday.

Since 1990, Kenya has been beset by a prolonged drought which has wiped out the harvest and caused severe food shortages.

The aid is a sign of solidarity between the Indonesian people and the over 25 million Kenyans currently facing hardship.

The aid is in part a manifestation of the results of a United Nations special session on the African economic crisis which called for aid to assist African states.

The problem is further exacerbated since Kenya must sustain the arrival of some 300,000 Somali refugees who left their homeland due to political troubles.

The aid will handed to the Kenyan government by Indonesia's ambassador to Nairobi, M. Seng Paselleri. (07)