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Indonesia to send cash aid to Laos
Desy Nurhayati , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Thu, 09/04/2008 10:19 AM | World
Presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said Monday that Indonesia planned to send cash aid to the people of Laos who were still suffering in the wake of a tropical storm and flooding which occurred there late last month.
"The president has instructed the Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare and the State Secretary to coordinate in sending aid to Laos," Dino told a press briefing at the presidential office.
Six people were killed and more than 200,000 people displaced because of flooding in Laos, where, after several months of unusually heavy rain, the Mekong River rose by 13 meters to its highest level in at least 100 years.
The Mekong floods also affected neighboring Cambodia and southern Vietnam.
"The president has acknowledged the extent of the disaster," Dino said.
"However, no amount of cash has been decided yet, as it is still being studied by the two ministers. We will soon announce the amount."
He said the Laotian government had asked for help from the international community and that Indonesia would respond by making a donation, alongside other Asian countries.
South Korea reportedly donated US$30,000 in cash, while Thailand and Japan donated $144,000 and $111,000, respectively.
