Japan's food aid to reach Baliem

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Some 2.6 tons of highly-nutritious food donated by the Japanese government to indigenous people living in the Baliem valley, Jayawijaya regency, is expected to arrive here this month, an official said yesterday.

Secretary of the provincial administration's natural disaster management coordinating unit, Sam Leimena, said the Calorie Mate food was being shipped on the initiative of Eva Garcia del Zaz, director of the Japan-based Asia Volunteers Association for Indigenous Health Issues.

Garcia visited Jayawijaya regency last month to see the condition of the people there, Leimena said.

The regency has been blighted by a prolonged drought that killed over 600 people last year.

"The nutritious food was specially designed for emergencies," Leimena said, as quoted by Antara. (aan)