Govt to study reported famine<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Kutai administration in East Kalimantan
\npromised yesterday to investigate reports that villagers were
\nstarving in Long Pahangai district after crop failure because of
\nthis year's extended dry season, Antara reported.<\/p>\n
Regency spokesman Syafrudin said a team would be sent to the
\ndistrict, situated 300 kilometers west of Tenggarong, the capital
\nof Kutai.<\/p>\n
\"We'll check whether the reports are true. If they are, the
\nadministration is ready to send food supplies to the famine-
\nstricken area,\" he said.<\/p>\n
According to the news agency, several residents reported that
\ndozens of families had started to experience food shortages
\nbecause of crop failure and had started eating cassavas.<\/p>\n
The report said the lack of rain had caused the volume of
\nwater in rivers to drop by 70 percent.<\/p>\n
The rivers are the main transportation in the East Kalimantan
\nhinterland.<\/p>\n
But H.A. Sofyan Alex, the head of the provincial agricultural
\nofficial, doubted there was a famine.<\/p>\n
\"Even if there were really reports about starvation, may be
\nthey were just isolated cases affecting some residents,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said he doubted dozens of families were affected because of
\nthe Dayak tribe's resourcefulness and tradition of storing rice
\nin both communal and individual rice barns. (09)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-to-study-reported-famine-1447893297",
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