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)