Some 38,000 families may experience floods next year
The city social welfare agency announced on Thursday that some 38,000 families would likely be affected by floods early next year.
The agency's social protection division head Nandi Tjaspandi revealed that the agency had proposed a fund of Rp 2 billion from the current budget to help flood victims.
"But the fund will only be enough to assist 10,000 of the most severely affected families," Nandi told reporters.
He said the fund would also be used as an honorarium for 932 volunteers that will help the victims, including setting up communal kitchens.
The Rp 2 billion fund is less than the Rp 4.5 billion fund that was collected during a charity night earlier this year for flood victims.
The Rp 4.5 billion fund became an issue when Governor Sutiyoso decided to hand over the fund to non-governmental organization ICE on Indonesia, which is led by television presenter Irma Hutabarat.
Deputy Governor Fauzi Bowo announced on Tuesday that the administration decided not to use the budget to take flood prevention measures, but instead to make preparations to assist residents in 169 flood-prone areas.
;JP;SIM; ANPAj..r.. Greater-train Boy on train roof electrocuted JP/8/GREAT
JAKARTA: A boy who rode on the roof of an overcrowded electric train died of electrocution on Thursday morning at Jatinegara railway station in East Jakarta.
The victim was about 10 years old, and the body was immediately taken to Cipto Mangunkusumo general hospital in Central Jakarta, but by late afternoon no one had come to claim the body, according to an employee of the hospital's morgue.
Passengers sitting on the roof of a train or clinging to the doors are a common sight during peak hours here. Despite the danger, they prefer to take overcrowded trains than public transportation by road because it is cheap and quick. Many of them also do not pay the fares. --JP
;JP;SIM; ANPAj..r.. Greater-Education US education expo at Hilton JP/8/GREAT
JAKARTA: The International Student Network, Inc. is bringing a group of U.S. educational institutions here for the American Education Expo Asia 2002, which will take place on Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Hilton Hotel in Central Jakarta.
The expo will feature representatives from leading universities, colleges, community colleges, English language schools and organizations engaged in American study abroad programs.
They will answer questions about admission requirements, academic programs, costs, financial aid, scholarships, housing, extracurricular activities and application procedures at U.S. universities. --JP
;JP;MULTA FIDRUS; ANPAj..r.. Greater-vendor Street vendor nabbed for pelting stones JP/8/GREAT
Vendor arrested for throwing stones
TANGERANG: A street vendor was arrested by police following a brawl between dozens of Tangerang public order officers and hundreds of vendors on Thursday evening at Pasar Anyar.
Five public order officers were injured in the brawl and taken to Tangerang General Hospital as vendors pelted them with stones.
One officer was still in hospital as of Friday, while the street vendor, Anton, remains in police custody. Anton, who sells men's belts, was the only one caught in the act of pelting stones at the officers.
The incident caused a large traffic jam, with many passing public transportation minivans and private cars trapped in the congestion. Many vehicle windows were damaged from the stones thrown by the vendors.
However, there were no reports of injured motorists.
The brawl ended after hundreds of police officers from the Tangerang Police Headquarters, just 200 meters away, arrived and fired shots into the air.--JP