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)