Students flee hunger at boarding school

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: As many as 156 nursing students in Manokwari regency have stayed away from their boarding school since Sunday because they were not getting enough to eat there, Antara reported.

Some of the students went back to their parents homes, while others reportedly just wandered off in search of food. The head of the provincial health office, Dr. Paulus Rudi Margono, confirmed the situation and blamed it on a shortage of funds.

He said each student was allocated Rp 2,450 per day for meals, but this sum had become inadequate in the face of sharp price increases resulting from the regional monetary turmoil.

Paulus said the school had asked for financial assistance from the regency administration to help them cope.

The school was still closed when The Jakarta Post went to press on Thursday night.