Over 1 million people displaced nationwide: Govt

Over 1 million people displaced nationwide: Govt

JAKARTA (JP): Disaster and unrest have increased the number of
internally displaced people in the country to a staggering
1,050,000, officials said on Thursday.

The secretary-general of the National Board of Social Welfare
(BKSN), Ferry Johannes, said the refugees made up 240,333
families sheltering in 18 provinces, most in the Maluku islands.

"Maluku and North Maluku are home to some 220,000 refugees as
the situation there never really improved," Ferry said on the
sidelines of a hearing with House Commission VII for population
and welfare.

He said the number of displaced people nationwide excluded
refugees seeking safety from natural disasters in Luwuk Banggai,
Bengkulu, Cilacap, Ciamis and Tasikmalaya.

He said a whopping 200,000 East Timor refugees were now
scattered across several provinces, namely East Nusa Tenggara,
West Nusa Tenggara, Bali and South Sulawesi.

Other territories where refugees were sheltering are Sambas in
West Kalimantan with some 65,000 people, Aceh with about 44,000
people and Irian Jaya with about 18,000 fleeing the Maluku riots,
Ferry said.

He added Jambi hosts the smallest number of displaced people,
with some 1,300 people fleeing riot-torn Aceh.

Minister of Health and Social Welfare Ahmad Suyudi, who also
attended the hearing, said his ministry was handling the refugees
with related agencies.

He said the ministry had proposed Rp 4.11 trillion of budget
for the next fiscal year. The figure equals 56.2 percent of the
current budget.

"Our budget is quite limited, especially with the extra job of
handling refugees. Fortunately, other state institutions which
have integrated into our ministry brought with them their funds,"
Ahmad said.

He was referring to the state minister of social welfare
office which was dissolved in August and BKSN, which will follow
suit on Tuesday.

BKSN's incorporation with the Ministry of Health and Social
Welfare will add two directorates dealing with rehabilitation and
social aid and development of social welfare.

Ferry said BKSN was facing difficulties, especially in food
and aid distribution to many remote refugee camps. The board also
has to ask for funds from the Ministry of Finance every month,
he added.

Each refugee is entitled to 400 grams of rice and a Rp 1,500
meal allowance per day.

"So imagine how much money we have to spend to help these
people survive. Most have lost hope and have no future," he said.

"East Timor refugees are actually willing to be repatriated
but they are facing difficulties in reclaiming their property."

A joint board from several related ministries will be
established to help people claim their assets in East Timor.

Ahmad further revealed that the ministry is having problems
locating doctors as well as part-time medical employees, as many
refused to serve in remote or restive areas.

"Some 40 percent of 7,500 community health centers (Puskesmas)
in the country have no doctors. That is why we really need to
deploy part-time employees, who are mostly midwives and
paramedics, to fill the posts for public service. But we cannot
force them to do so," Achmad said, adding that there are 2,000
new doctors and some 5,000 midwives every year. (edt)