Thousands live in tents after quake in Sulawesi of Indonesia
19/11/2008 16:45
Thousands of residents in Buol regency, Central Sulawesi of Indonesia,
were still staying in makeshift shelters on higher ground yesterday, fearing
that aftershocks could trigger a tsunami, the Jakarta Post daily today quoted an
official as saying.
"Bokat district and Biau district have the most
residents, namely 9,750 and some 6,000 people respectively, taking refuge," said
Amran Batalipu, the Buol Regent, adding that residents were still traumatized
from Monday's quake.
The residents fled to Mt. Onone, Mt. Modo and Mt. Laeka
and constructed makeshift tents out of plastic sheets and even sarong clothing.
The local administrations have been supplying food to the refugees.
The
Indonesian government allocated 400 billion rupiahs (US$33 million) in financial
assistance for the victims, including funds to rebuild homes at a value of 15
million rupiahs per house and 2 million rupiahs in compensation for families of
deceased victims.
"We have a system in place and it works. So I don't want to
hear any news of victim families getting hungry, or I will hold the governors
responsible," said Bachtiar Chamsyah, the Indonesian Social Services
Minister.
The government has granted permission to regents and governors of
affected provinces to distribute between 50 and 200 tons of rice from the
ministry's emergency stockpiles, he added.
Bachtiar urged regents and
governors to cooperate with the military, police and ministry's Tagana (Disaster
Response Team) to distribute the much-needed aid.
Xinhua
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