Number of IDPs drops

DENPASAR, Bali: Minister of Social Affairs Bachtiar Chamsyah said on Monday that the number of internally displaced people (IDP) in and around Indonesia's various conflict-torn areas had drastically dropped to 500,000 from 1.3 million last year.

He attributed the decrease to "comprehensive efforts conducted by all related parties". However he did not elaborate.

Speaking on the sidelines of the National Awakening Day celebration here, the minister said the government had paid serious attention to the IDP problem and taken it as a top priority compared to other social matters because of the political impacts.

"By the end of this year, I hope we can take of 30 percent of the remaining IDPs while the other 70 percent will be taken care of next year," he said.

The decrease due in large part to the tens of thousands of East Timorese that have been repatriated from their camps in East Nusa Tenggara. -- Antara