Four toddlers die of starvation

MEDAN, North Sumatra: The prolonged drought was said to be responsible for the deaths of four toddlers and 11 others near death in Pirngadi Hospital, Medan, due to starvation resulting from failed harvests that hit Pardomuan village, Pantailabu district, Deli Serdang regency, North Sumatra.

Hariadi Siburian, 2, Butet Br Siburian, 4, Ucok Sihombing, 1, and Desriana, 3, died of malnutrition-related illnesses. They did not receive proper medical assistance because the village remains isolated.

Kasman Manalu, a father of one of the victims, said at the hospital on Thursday that the starvation was the result of failed harvest caused by prolonged drought, flood and pest attacks that have hit the village of 30 families over the past four years.

He said people in his village had not had proper harvests since 1999 when pests destroyed the paddy. The farmers conceded another harvest failure in the year after due to an attack of snails. They continued to suffer last year as floods swept away their paddy fields.

North Sumatra governor T. Rizal Nurdin said he had been informed about the famine by Deli Serdang Regent Abdul Hafidz, but could not do anything to help due to the regional autonomy law that prevents a governor as the central government's representative from meddling with internal affairs of autonomous village administrations.

"I cannot interfere directly but I have instructed the regent to take immediate steps to cope with this problem," he said, adding that he was disappointed with the regent's slow response to the problems.

Rizal said he expected the regent to prevent further casualties. -- JP.