Three children die as blizzard hits Baliem<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Three children have died and 166 people have
\nfallen ill with stomach pain and influenza after an unexpected
\nblizzard hit their villages in Baliem Valley in Irian Jaya last
\nmonth, the Antara news agency.<\/p>\n
Thousands of people in the isolated Koyawage I and Koyawage II
\nvillages also face food shortages as the snow has virtually
\ndestroyed all sweet potato crops, the main staple in their diet,
\nAntara quoted Jayawijaya Regency Secretary Frans Tan as saying.<\/p>\n
The snowstorm covered the two villages between Sept. 18-21 but
\nnews of the disaster only reached Jayapura last weekend due to
\nthe poor communication between the villages and the outside
\nworld.<\/p>\n
The news was brought by the heads of the two affected
\nvillages, Epi Kogoya and Pilemon Celegen. Frans on Monday went to
\nthe villages to look at the situation.<\/p>\n
Yesterday he launched a relief operation to send medicines and
\nfood to the villages, both of which are located on the south side
\nof the Trikora peak, about 2,000 meters above sea level. The only
\nway to travel to the area is by small plane from Wamena.<\/p>\n
Both men said most of the 4,200 who inhabit the two villages
\nhave fled their to Ilu and Sinak districts in Paniai.<\/p>\n
The move came with residents complaining of a dried-up food
\nsupply and also of the drastic temperature changes occurring
\nbetween day and night.<\/p>\n
In Jayapura, the head of the Social Services Office, Oman
\nSudharman, said on Tuesday that his office had not received any
\nrequest for relief aid from the authorities in Wamena. (emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/three-children-die-as-blizzard-hits-baliem-1447893297",
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