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)