Quake victims to receive cash for Idul Fitri

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Mon, 10/01/2007 3:42 PM

Syofiardi Bachyul Jb, The Jakarta Post, Padang

Earthquake survivors in West Sumatra may still be able to celebrate Idul Fitri because their regency administrations plan to distribute cash assistance ahead of the celebrations.

The plan was disclosed by Pesisir Selatan Regent Nasrul Abit after a meeting in Padang to determine the emergency period of quake disasters.

The Pesisir Selatan regency was devastated by the September 12 and 13 quakes.

Plans to provide each family that suffered a damaged home range from Rp 500,000 (US$55.50) to Rp 1 million, Nasrul said.

""We plan to provide the funds early so they can celebrate Idul Fitri ... most of them are cash-strapped,"" he said.

""They have already received relief aid in the form of food and tents.""

Nasrul said the assistance would be taken from the 2007 regency budget for disaster assistance at the amount of Rp 5 billion and from other unused funds.

""We have asked for approval ... we will distribute the funds after we've completed the data,"" he said.

""Survivors have received rice, but they don't have money.

""We must give them some cash because they are facing a rough time now.""

The quakes have affected as many as eight of the 12 districts in Pesisir Selatan regency bordering Bengkulu regency, which was also badly affected by the quake.

The quakes have affected 7,500 families and left 3,590 residential homes severely damaged and 4,891 others reasonably damaged.

Regency administrations in the province have proposed cash assistance of Rp 760 billion from the Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Aburizal Bakrie.

""The number of evacuees has diminished to around 2,000 now, and will continue to gradually reduce, because they ... have moved to their relatives or to other areas,"" Aburizal said.

""Food and medicine supplies are sufficient.

""I received 250 tons of rice from the Social Welfare Ministry when I went to Jakarta on Thursday.

""The government has promised to provide assistance until after Idul Fitri,"" he said.

The Padang municipality said it would also provide cash assistance to affected families before Idul Fitri.

As many as 1,898 homes in Padang were badly damaged and 1,646 somewhat damaged,"" Padang's mayor Fauzi Bahar said.

""We have set aside Rp 700 million and will likely increase this to Rp 1 billion, so that quake survivors in Padang do not feel envious of those in Pesisir Selatan,"" he said.

The Mentawai Islands regency administration said it had no plans yet to provide such funds.

""We have not yet discussed the matter with the district heads,"" Vice Regent Yudas Sabaggalet said.

Based on data from the West Sumatra Disaster Mitigation task force, as many as 2,644 homes were badly damaged and 2,145 slightly damaged by the quakes.

West Sumatra Governor Gamawan Fauzi said Vice President Jusuf Kalla would also provide cash assistance and 10 kg of rice to each quake survivor ""in the near future"".

The governor said the quake emergency period for the province ended Friday.

""But the emergency period will be extended for 15 more days in regencies and cities,"" Gamawan said.

""This is in line with the president's instructions ... but relief aid will be managed by local administrations,"" he said.

Copyright © 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved.