Japan's food aid to reach Baliem

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)