PRESIDENT ASKS MINISTERS TO VISIT DISASTER AREAS

Jakarta, March 25 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has called on ministers of the second United Indonesia Cabinet to visit disaster-hit areas to help victims.

"The President asked ministers to visit disaster-hit areas to help the local community as well as to see what they are experiencing," Communications and Information Minister Tifatul Sembiring said after a limited cabinet meeting at the Presidential Office here on Thursday.

By visiting the disaster-hit areas, the ministers could directly communicate with the affected people while handing over relief aid, Tifatul quoted the President as saying.

Social Services Minister Salim Segaf Al-Jufrie meanwhile said his ministry had once again disbursed Rp500 million in funds to help alleviate the financial burden of flood victims in Karawang district, West Java.

"We have already provided emergency response assistance. And today we will extend another Rp500 million in assistance," he said.

The money would bring to Rp1 billion the amount of assistance provided by the government to the flood victims so far, he said.

After the phase of emergency response had been completed the government would make an inventory of houses damaged in the floods, he said.

By Thursday at least 35 villages in Karawang district were inundated compared to 31 villages the day before.
According to Karawang district's social welfare authorities, the worst hit villages were found in the sub-districts of Telukjambe Timur, Karawang Barat, and Pakisjaya.

In the three sub-districts, the height of the flood waters was between 50 centimeters and two meters. In certain areas, the flood waters even reached house roofs.

Head of Karawang district's social welfare office, Banuara Nadeak, said the overflowing of the Citarum River was the cause of the floods in 10 sub-districts.