Refugees suffer more hardships

Refugees suffer more hardships

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: As many as 365 East Timorese who
fled their strife-ravaged homeland to seek a better life in
Makassar are facing further difficulties.

The 85 East Timorese families staying at the Kasih Ibu
orphanage on Jl. Datuk Patimang lack food and medicine. Many of
the refugees are ailing and the orphanage is too small to
accommodate all of them, forcing some of them to sleep outside.

Spokesman for the refugees Lorenso told The Jakarta Post on
Wednesday that he had asked the local administration for help.

East Timor, the country's 27th province, was engulfed in
violence and destruction after residents rejected a wide-ranging
autonomy offer from Jakarta in early September. Its capital Dili
was almost razed through pillaging and arson.

Many frightened residents fled into neighboring East Nusa
Tenggara and other provinces. Jakarta and provincial governments
have been overwhelmed by the demands of the refugee situation.

"Since we arrived here on Oct. 20, we have lacked supplies,
despite our good fortune in being able to escape the violence in
our hometowns," Lorenso said. He warned that the imminent rainy
season would worsen their plight.

An orphanage official, Nureni, said the only aid for the
refugees was provided by the Ministry of Social Affairs. "The aid
is too small to help the refugees. We appeal to other
institutions and individuals to help the refugees." (27/sur)