Diarrhea claims 74 lives in drought-hit Irian

JAKARTA (JP): A diarrhea outbreak in the drought stricken, isolated Senggo Asmat village in the country's easternmost province, Irian Jaya, has killed 74 people since October, Antara reported yesterday.

The news agency quoted Slamet, head of the Merauke regency health office, as saying the residents died in the outbreak believed to have spread because of a clean water shortage.

Malaria and respiratory infections were also blamed for the high death toll.

The local population has been weakened by malnutrition following extensive drought-induced damage to yam crops, the local staple food, further aggravating the effects of the disease, Slamet said.

The report from the affected area was received via radio transmission.

The severe dry season in various parts of Indonesia has ruined harvests, and dried up clean water sources in Irian Jaya. About 500 people have died in Merauke, Jayawijaya and Puncak Jaya regencies since August due to various drought-related illnesses, officials have said.

The authorities have also said that 90,000 people in the Jayawijaya regency were threatened by famine.

Another Antara dispatch from Southeast Maluku regency said food shortages had swept across 51 villages in five districts there. The news agency quoted a report Wednesday from the office of social services in Tual, stating that 6,887 families, or 29,081 people, were facing food shortages and were "in a critical condition".

"The number (of people affected) is a 164 percent increase from last month," M. Davidsz from the social services office said, Antara reported.

He said his office had sent 5.5 tons of rice since Oct. 25, but the aid was far from adequate because the region needed at least 32.5 tons more. The office has only 0.4 tons of rice remaining.

Further to yesterday's report on the tidal wave that hit Anus village Saturday, Antara has reported that there were no casualties in the disaster but the tidal wave forced the villagers to seek shelter in a transmigration settlement being constructed by PT Ronitha some 15 kilometers away. The villagers are still there now, awaiting help.

Separately, the Australian Embassy said here that its government has allocated A$25,000 to help isolated tribes in the drought and fire affected central highlands of Irian Jaya.

The money will be used to assist the Dani, Nduga, Ngalik and Samagai tribes of the Baliem valley, all of whom have been affected by crop losses and water shortages, the embassy said.

The Australian funds will, among other things, be used to buy pots for boiling and storing drinking water and to treat diarrhea and monitor disease outbreaks caused mainly by bad water.

Australia, through World Vision, has also allocated $300,000 for food, blankets and warm clothing for 15,000 people in Irian Jaya who, apart from the drought, have also been affected by frost. Over the past two months, Australia has also provided $2 million in emergency assistance during Indonesia's forest fire crisis, with $1 million set aside for water bombing.

The Danish Embassy here has donated Rp 124,687,500 (US$38,000) in cash to help victims of the drought in Jayawijaya.

The funds are earmarked for the purchase and installation of water pumps, pipes, tanks and containers, enabling a clean drinking water supply in Kuyawage for the Ninia and Kurima tribespeople of Jayawijaya.

Meanwhile, in Jakarta, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Azwar Anas said yesterday the public works ministry will provide more water pumps to Irian Jaya, especially Jayawijaya regency.

The government has also appointed eight villages in Jayawijaya as centers for food distribution to facilitate dispatch of relief to remote areas. The villages were Apalapsili, Nalka, Oluon, Pasema, Silimo, Seradela, Warme and Kuyawali, all located in Kurumi and Wamena subdistricts.

Speaking to reporters after meeting with Vice President Try Sutrisno, Azwar said local people had been suggested to grow corn as an alternative food to their traditional crops of sweet potatoes, during this prolonged drought.

"We hope farms in Baliem valley can be better cultivated to help people provide food for themselves," Azwar said. (swe/prb)