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bout 100 people suffering from leprosy in Makassar, South Sulawesi, staged a rally on Wednesday, protesting the late distribution of aid they receive annually from the provincial administration.

They staged their protest in front of the provincial legislature and Social Affairs Agency office, having arrived from the Jongaya leprosy complex in Makassar, which is home to more than 400 lepers.

“The aid has always been distributed on the tenth of 10th month at the latest. It’s already the 19th this month but we have not received it yet. We need to eat,” Jamaluddin Sarro, one of the protesters, said.

Each lepers is entitled to receive 15 kilograms of rice and Rp 50,000 in cash every month. The fund has been included in the provincial budget for 20 years.

Jamaluddin, who heads a leprosy association called Perhimpunan Mandiri Kusta (Permata), said that the aid had been the main source of food for lepers in the area.

The late distribution, he added, had concerned them.

“Lepers and former lepers find it very difficult to find jobs because the community shuns them. Therefore if the aid is not there, they cannot support themselves. They might end up begging,” he said.

Social Affairs Agency official Syakhruddin, who is in charge of detection and deportation affairs, told the protesters the aid would be distributed soon.

The provincial administration has allocated Rp 600 million in its 2011 budget for aid for leprosy victims. The budget, Syakhruddin said, had been approved but the aid had not been disbursed.

“The provincial administration has not removed the aid. So, please be patient,” he told the protesters.

After hearing the explanation, the protesters dispersed.

Mustari Lotong, the head of a local neighborhood unit, said he hoped the agency would keep its promise and distribute the aid soon.