Presidential aid for flood victims

Presidential aid for flood victims

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: President B.J. Habibie has agreed to
donate Rp 40 billion (US$6 million), Rp 10 billion short of the
requested amount, to help relocate flood victims here.

Governor Ferry Numberi told reporters upon his arrival from
Jakarta over the weekend that the fund could be used to build
modest houses for some 900 families in a safe area away from the
glutted housing complex.

Numberi said families who lost houses would receive monthly
financial assistance for a year to pay the house rent.

A chunk of the fund would also be allocated for a
reconstruction project of the canal in Padang Bulan IV state
housing complex, which was still inundated.

Numberi blamed the flood on developers who lacked
environmental awareness in the construction project.

One man was killed in the flood which affected over 4,700
families in the town early this month. (amd)