Students flee hunger at boarding school

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.