PMI gets help from UN body

JAKARTA: The United Nations World Food Program has agreed to provide 10,760 tons of rice to support a relief program organized by the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI).

PMI secretary-general Soesanto Mangoensadjito said on Thursday the rice would be distributed to 645,000 poor people and 15,000 orphanages and foundations caring for disabled persons. "We will fill their rice demand for one year, starting from April 1999," he said.

The country representative of the International Red Cross Federation, Herman H. Bergsma, said, however, the rice would not be sent until it received approval from the Development Planning Board.

Apart from the food aid, the relief program, organized by PMI's Crisis Center, will earmark health funds for 400,000 people. The center also will supply blood for 25,000 patients.

The relief program covers 52 regencies in 15 provinces across the country. (amd)