Students aid riot victims

Students aid riot victims

AMBON, Maluku: Indonesian students in the United States have
donated 50 tons of dry food, medical supplies and other goods for
victims of recent communal clashes here, Antara quoted a military
spokesman as saying on Monday.

Commander of the Maluku Regional Military Command Col. Karel
Ralahalu accepted the donation from Col. Harry Cokro, a member of
the 19-member Special Armed Forces Team which was formed and
dispatched to Ambon to help settle the unrest.

The aid will be distributed through Yayasan Peduli Indonesia
in cooperation with Armed Forces Headquarters in Jakarta.

Meanwhile, the West Kalimantan chapter of the Indonesian Red
Cross complained on Monday that fund shortages were hampering its
operations, Antara said.

Chapter chairwoman Sri Kadarwati Aswin said humanitarian
assistance for victims of the unrest in Sambas regency could not
be distributed because the chapter lacked funds for
transportation.

Another problem is the limited number of volunteers, she said.
(swe)