Foreign aid for quake victims not yet necessary: President

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 09/03/2009 10:21 PM

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Thursday international aid was not yet urgent for survivors of the 7.3-magnitude earthquake, which has left over 25,000 houses in Tasikmalaya and its West Java neighboring towns damaged.

The President said Indonesia remained capable of handling the impacts of the natural disaster.

“So far, the government has managed to cope with the impacts of the quake using national resources,” the President said on the sidelines of his visit to Babakan Caringin hamlet in the village of Cikangkareng, Cianjur, one of the areas hit hardest by the quake.

Australia and Japan have offered to help the Indonesian government mitigate the disaster.

The President said the local government would lead the post-disaster rehabilitation efforts with the central government’s assistance.

He said the central government would extend Rp 5 billion in financial aid for the quick emergency response work, excluding humanitarian assistance. The government, he added, would also help survivors rebuild their houses.

Deputy West Java Governor Dede Yusuf said the disaster had killed 54 people, injured 147 others, ruined 34 houses and damaged 26,000 houses.

First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, vice president-elect Boediono and a number of ministers accompanied the President during the visit.