Refugee children missing school

TERNATE, Maluku: At least 5,750 children from the Malifut district of Halmahera Island in North Maluku who fled here to escape riots on Halmahera, have not returned to the classroom despite the official start of the school year.

Antara reported on Monday that neither the central government or the provincial administration had taken steps to provide for the children's education.

The school year officially began on Monday.

The children fled with their parents following riots which hit Halmahera last week.

Wahab Conoras of the North Maluku Social Services Office said the administration was doing its best to meet the needs of the refugees, however the priorities were food and shelter.

He pledged the administration would coordinate further with the local education office.

Some 1,460 houses and 16 public buildings were burned during the riots on Halmahera. At least 10 people died in the violence. (02)