Restoration begins for riot-hit areas

JAKARTA (JP): Work to rebuild riot-hit cities such as Ambon in Maluku and Kupang in East Nusa Tenggara has begun and is expected to be completed within four months, officials say.

Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare and Poverty Alleviation Haryono Suyono said the projects made use of social safety net funds at the disposal of some government offices. He did not give details of the budget available.

"In Ambon, for instance, the first phase of rehabilitation for public utilities and houses has started with the construction of 100 houses, two traditional markets and 85 madrasah (Islamic schools)," Haryono noted.

Around 4,000 houses and other facilities have been destroyed or damaged in the unrest in Ambon. Thousands of people have sought refuge in mosques, churches, and military installations, many of them doing so in preparation to flee from Maluku.

Minister of Social Affairs Justika Baharsyah said so far 3,000 people have fled Ambon to Southeast Sulawesi and 4,000 more have gone to South Sulawesi due to the continuing conflict in Maluku province.

Her account was decidedly smaller than figures given earlier by other parties. Some local officials in the two Sulawesi provinces, for instance, have estimated the number of refugees in their areas to be around 50,000, while the Al Falah Foundation in Surabaya said at least 60,000 Muslims have fled Maluku since violence erupted mid-January.

"The main problem is providing shelter and food," Justika said, adding her office and other ministries have consolidated assistance for the riot-stricken people.

"Next week some 1,000 tons of rice will be sent to Ambon. More staple food also will be sent to places of refuge," she said.

Justika also said some 230 houses were being built in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, after the area was hit by unrest on Nov. 30 last year.

At least 11 mosques and smaller Muslim places of worship were set ablaze and more than a dozen houses, a haj dormitory, government offices and school buildings were destroyed in the Kupang riot, causing material losses of nearly Rp 30 billion.

"Though we may seem slow, we are trying hard to help the people, but the losses incurred in the unrest are enormous. We don't have sufficient budget for all of them," Haryono said.

Some 3,000 refugees from East Timor staying on the border with East Nusa Tenggara have also been given food aid and temporary shelter, Haryono added. (edt)