Relief aid for flood victims

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: The office of the coordinating minister for people's welfare and poverty eradication has allotted Rp 9.2 billion and 1,842 tons of rice for people affected by the recent flooding in Belu and Timor Tengah Selatan regencies.

Acting spokesman for the provincial secretary David Foenale said on Saturday that the aid would arrive within a week.

"The facsimile from the minister was received by Governor Piet Tallo on Friday," David told Antara.

Floods inundated the two districts last May, leaving some 58,000 homeless. The floods also destroyed crops.

More aid arrived on Saturday morning from oil company PT. Caltex and Indonesian Chevron and Texaco Social Foundation. It comprised 43 packages of drugs, 300 packages of instant noodles, 1,008 blankets, 1,800 packages of powdered milk for babies, 1,000 sarongs, 200 plastic mats, 100 kilograms of sugar, 500 kilograms of rice and 26 packages of clothes. (09)