Japan gives more aid

JAKARTA (JP): The Japanese government will provide an additional emergency assistance grant amounting to 3 billion (about US$23 million).

The Japanese Embassy announced yesterday that the Japanese government had decided to provide the assistance on March 27 following the first emergency assistance grant of about 1.02 billion on March 6.

The embassy said the grant would mainly focus on relief for socially depressed people by purchasing daily necessities, including materials for medicine and powdered milk.

In connection with this, the Japanese government is considering dispatching a mission to discuss finalizing purchases with Indonesian authorities.

The emergency assistance, according to the embassy, is in response to an urgent request from the Indonesian government raised during a meeting between Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto and President Soeharto on March 15.

The Japanese government intends to extend necessary assistance in line with the aid package described in the cabinet plan on Feb. 20. (hen)