PMI may stop ambulance operation

JAKARTA: The Jakarta chapter of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) has warned it may be forced to stop its ambulance service and blood donor service due to lack of funds.

Jakarta PMI head Uga Wiranto, said that PMI was facing financial problems, and if it failed to receive additional donations from sponsors, it would stop the ambulance service, and even blood transfusion service, beritajakarta.com reported.

"I am afraid the ambulance may break down due to engine trouble while bringing a patient to the hospital," said Uga, who is the wife of former military chief Wiranto.

PMI has five ambulances, made between 1987 and 1993.

Poppy S. Petra, who is in charge of fund-raising at PMI Central Jakarta, said that last year, only Rp 554 million (US$50,500) was collected from a target of Rp 575 million, while in 2000, PMI collected Rp 466 million.

PMI claimed it could not do much for flood victims due to financial constraints and lack of facilities.

In its Central Jakarta office, for example, many cooking utensils that were needed to open a public kitchen were damaged. --JP