National

85 Indonesians Seek Refuge Following Hurricane Katrina
Wednesday, 07 September, 2005 | 00:26 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:Around 85 Indonesian citizens had to seek refuge following Hurricane Katrina in the USA.

Foreign department spokesperson Yuri Thamrin said that these citizens came from New Orleans, Louisiana.
Now, they are already in refugee camps in Houston, Texas.

Thamrin added that the problem of Indonesian refugees had been handled by the Indonesian Consulate General in Houston, which has formed a crisis center.

“Our consulate general in Houston has met with victims in Houston. However, as yet there have been no reports about any Indonesian citizens becoming victims of Hurricane Katrina,” he stated on Monday (05/09).

However, the Indonesian foreign department has received a report that five families preferred to remain in New Orleans after the hurricane.

According to Thamrin, the five families have refused to leave their residence because they live in a high-rise apartment building where they are safe and far from any floods.

“Following the disaster, we can only contact two families. We’re trying to contact the three other families. Up to now, there have been no reports of Indonesian victims. It’s quite positive,” he said.
Indonesia has planned to provide humanitarian support to the USA.

This support now only needs approval from the US government in Washington.

The Indonesian government has prepared between 30 and 40 medical staff as well as logistic support.
(DEDDY SINAGA-Tempo News Room)