1 APRIL 1998. INDONESIA: FAMINE

Geoff Spencer of the Associated Press reports that the U.N. warns that drought and the financial crisis in Indonesia put 7.5 million people at risk of "acute food supply inadequacy" in the world's fourth largest nation by population. The economic crisis will make recovery from the drought more difficult as people lack money to purchase seed and fertilizer. This in turn will aggravate the economic situation as Indonesia is forced to import rice. An international economic bailout awaits indications that President Suharto's family will reduce its grip on the economy.--based on a report from Nando.net <http://www.nando.net.

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