U.S. provides funds for Atauro

U.S. provides funds for Atauro

DILI, East Timor: The U.S. government has provided US$25,000
in aid to alleviate poverty in Atauro island, just north of here,
a local official has said.

Dili regent Domingos M.D. Soares, whose area of jurisdiction
includes Atauro, said Wednesday that the money would be used for
income-generating projects.

Soares said the local administration was still deciding what
projects would be appropriate.

Antara reported that the island, inhabited by 8,000 families,
is facing starvation due to the prolonged dry season. The East
Timor provincial government has already shipped 10 tons of rice
to the island.

"The rice has been a great help to the Atauro people," he
said. (pan)