Most Irian Jaya relief funds spent on transportation

Most Irian Jaya relief funds spent on transportation

JAKARTA (JP): The government has spent Rp 200 billion (US$46
million) on relief operations to drought-hit Irian Jaya, State
Minister of National Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita
said yesterday.

However, 80 percent of the funds had to be allocated for
transportation expenses due to the geographical conditions of the
affected regencies, he said.

"Transportation costs are expensive because we have to use
planes to send (aid) there, and then also hire local people to
carry it to affected locations," Ginandjar said after meeting
with President Soeharto at the latter's residence on Jl. Cendana,
Central Jakarta.

During the meeting, Soeharto was accompanied by his eldest
daughter Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana.

"According to data from local authorities and from the
ministry of social services, about 150,000 people face a shortage
of food," Ginandjar said.

Secretary of Irian Jaya's disaster task force Sam Leimena said
Wednesday that 554 people had died from drought-related disease,
including 447 in Jayawijaya regency. The figure is lower than
previously reported in the media.

"The condition of the population has become more and more
worrying because of the food crisis and outbreaks of disease
during the drought," Antara quoted Leimena as saying.

The long drought has severely affected the harvest of sweet
potatoes, the local staple.

"The President asked me to pay special attention to the
(impact of) drought and famine disasters there," Ginandjar said.

When asked about the President's health, Ginandjar said: "He
appeared relaxed because he has started to recover from
exhaustion after his long overseas trip."

"As you can see, our meeting lasted one hour. And frankly
speaking, during our conversation he talked more than I did," the
minister added.

Although Soeharto is still resting, he continues to work from
home, said Ginandjar.

"His rest is not just for daydreaming but for thinking and
working to project our future problems," Ginandjar said.

Soeharto decided Wednesday to attend the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) informal summit in Kuala Lumpur
on Sunday and Monday.

Hardiyanti, better known as Mbak Tutut, said yesterday that
her father should not go ahead with his planned trip.

"We, the whole family, want Bapak not to travel overseas at
the present time," she said after a meeting of the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) yesterday.

"It is okay for him to attend state programs which are held in
the city," she said. (prb/imn/aan)