Pekanbaru, Riau (ANTARA News) - The branch of the state logistics board (Bulog) in Riau province said it is ready to distribute rice for flood victims in several districts in Riau and Riau Islands provinces.

"We are waiting for an order from the regional administrations to start extending the relief aid for the victims," Riau Bulog spokesman Saiful said here on Monday.

Floods have hit wide areas in the province of Riau over the past week isolating people in a number of villages as transport was cut with road submerged by flood waters.

Saiful said currently Bulog has stocks of rice enough to meet requirement for three months in this region.

He said Bulog had 18,944 tons of rice in its warehouses to forestall the market in several districts and cities in the province of Riau.

"The stocks would guarantee supply and maintain price stability," he said.

The stocks also will guarantee supply of rice for the poor under the government program to provide rice with cheap price for poor families, he said.

"So far rice distribution in Riau has been smooth including for flood victims. We always stand ready to provide aid in rice," he said.

Earlier it was reported 3,452 people of more than 21,000 flood victims in the district of Rokan Hulu have been evacuated after the Batang Bulu and Rokan rivers overflowed their banks.
(H-ASG/S012)

Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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