The Jakarta Post, February 23, 2005
Ambon to disburse refugee funds
AMBON, Maluku: The Ambon municipal government is to pay out over Rp 500,000
(US$55) to each Maluku refugee family as the central government deadline for the
resettlement of Ambon refugees draws near.
The money will be handed over to 1,024 refugee families in order to allow them to
return to their homes and start new lives, said M.A. Namsa, the director of the Ambon
Social Affairs Office.
The refugees were some of the hundreds of thousands of Maluku people forced to
abandon their homes after a sectarian civil war in the province claimed thousands of
lives.
The number of people living in displaced persons camps has dwindled in recent years
in line with the steadily improving security situation in the area. The government has
set a deadline of December this year for local governments in Maluku to provide
assistance to the refugees so that they can return home. -- JP
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