Irian Jaya drought-related deaths rise to 413

Irian Jaya drought-related deaths rise to 413

JAKARTA (JP): Another 151 drought-related deaths have been
reported in the country's easternmost province of Irian Jaya,
lifting the toll to at least 413.

The latest figures were provided by Jayawijaya Regent J.B.
Wenas, who said Sunday that large-scale relief was urgently
needed to prevent more casualties.

Wenas, in a report sent to the governor of Irian Jaya on
Sunday, said the toll in his regency had reached 319, and 22 in
neighboring Merauke regency.

The previous number of deaths in Jayawijaya was 262, while in
Merauke it was 21.

At least seven deaths have also been reported in Puncak Jaya
regency.

Wenas said thousands in remote villages scattered throughout
the three regencies had been suffering from malnutrition and
illnesses over the last three months.

He said doctors had reported to him that the deaths were not
"of extraordinary cause or epidemic", but were from malnutrition.

"As a result, villagers in the disaster-hit areas have become
vulnerable to at least five illnesses: malaria, diarrhea,
respiratory infections, skin diseases and intestinal worms, in
mostly children and babies," Wenas was quoted by Antara as
saying.

Cold and snowy weather in the mountainous region had also
exacerbated the plight of thousands, he said.

A representative of World Vision Indonesia said yesterday that
Wenas had told a meeting of aid donors in Wamena, Jayawijaya's
capital, that more food and medicine had to be air-dropped if
more deaths were to be prevented.

Relief so far has been provided by helicopters and small
aircraft operated by the Armed Forces, Mission Aviation
Fellowship, and Freeport mining company.

In his report, Wenas said most of the casualties in Jayawijaya
occurred in August.

Wenas said the rising death toll was because the disaster-hit
villages being so remote. Communication in such areas remained
difficult and the thick haze hindered the delivery of food and
medical relief.

Wenas said the latest information on the death toll came from
seven doctors who went to the ill-fated villages.

He said he had met envoys from USAid, the United Nations, and
the Australian Embassy, who were visiting the regency to find out
what assistance was needed.

A joint team from the Indonesian Red Cross and the
International Committee of the Red Cross has also visited
Mapanduma to channel food relief.

The head of the Jayawijaya health office, Dr. Zulfian Muslim,
said deaths from the drought were almost inevitable given that so
many of the villages were extremely difficult to reach.

He noted that many of them were located in isolated spots, on
steep mountain sides with houses and pigpens located adjacent to
one another.

"The villages in the disaster areas are located in an
expansive area made up of rugged terrain," he said. (aan)