Jayawijaya regent seeks more drought relief supplies<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The regent of the area in Irian Jaya with the
\nhighest number of drought-related deaths warned yesterday that
\nwhile relief was getting through to the worst hit villages, food
\nshortages could get worse in the next three months.<\/p>\n
Jayawijaya Regent J.B. Wenas said most farms in the
\nmountainous region had been hit by the drought and production of
\ncassava, the staple food of the region's 500,000 people, had
\ndwindled.<\/p>\n
At least 391 deaths from drought-related illnesses have been
\nreported in the region.<\/p>\n
Wenas said the regency was prioritizing aid to villages worst
\nhit by food shortages.<\/p>\n
\"We will drop the relief later to villages which can still
\nproduce their own food,\" Wenas told The Jakarta Post by phone
\nfrom Jayawijaya.<\/p>\n
He said his administration was considering dropping the food
\nand medicine to local churches, which are dotted throughout the
\nregency.<\/p>\n
\"This will be in anticipation of drought conditions that are
\nlikely to get worse in the next three months,\" Wenas said.<\/p>\n
The churches, Wenas said, would be well placed to channel the
\nrelief to local tribespeople living in villages scattered
\nthroughout the regency, which has an area equivalent to the size
\nof East Java.<\/p>\n
Wenas said there is now a great need for more rice, milk
\npowder and cooking oil.<\/p>\n
\"The cooking oil is not for cooking cookies though, but to
\nfeed children who are suffering from malnutrition,\" Wenas said.
\n\"It is good for vitamin A.\"<\/p>\n
Wenas said the channeling of the relief was being conducted
\n\"gradually\" to avoid problems which may arise from a sudden
\nchange in diet.<\/p>\n
The administration's mobile team of doctors have been deployed
\nsince last month, he said.<\/p>\n
Wenas said that the cooperation between his administration,
\nlocal churches, non-governmental organizations, the military and
\nthe Freeport mining company, in coping with the disaster had been
\n\"wonderful\" so far.<\/p>\n
Local churches have made their radio communications equipment
\navailable for providing much-needed information to the
\nadministration, he said.<\/p>\n
Two airplanes and a helicopter have been provided by the
\nMission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) and Protestant Advent
\nFoundation and Freeport.<\/p>\n
Wenas said the Irian Jaya District Military had offered its
\nhelicopters to be used for dropping food relief to remote
\nvillages, but the offer for the moment had not been taken up.<\/p>\n
\"The available aircraft, a Cessna from Advent and a Caravan
\nfrom MAF and a chopper from Freeport are enough for the moment,\"
\nWenas explained.<\/p>\n
Asked what he needed most now apart from food relief, Wenas
\nsaid: \"Avtur (airplane fuel)\".<\/p>\n
According to him, the current fuel supply was only sufficient
\nfor another two days. At least 200 drums of fuel are needed to
\nhelp further air relief operations.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the latest increase of drought-related deaths in
\nhis regency, from 262 to 391, Wenas said that all the deaths
\noccurred more than two weeks ago.<\/p>\n
\"The figures have been slow coming in,\" he said.<\/p>\n
On Sunday, Wenas reported to the governor of Irian Jaya that
\nat least 413 people died in August and September in the regencies
\nof Jayawijaya and Merauke.<\/p>\n
Most of the victims died of cholera after drinking dirty
\nwater.<\/p>\n
Wenas also said yesterday that envoys from USAid, the
\nAustralian Embassy and the United Nations had visited the area
\nand learned about the relief needed by the regency. (aan)<\/p>\n
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