Jayawijaya regent seeks more drought relief supplies

Jayawijaya regent seeks more drought relief supplies

JAKARTA (JP): The regent of the area in Irian Jaya with the
highest number of drought-related deaths warned yesterday that
while relief was getting through to the worst hit villages, food
shortages could get worse in the next three months.

Jayawijaya Regent J.B. Wenas said most farms in the
mountainous region had been hit by the drought and production of
cassava, the staple food of the region's 500,000 people, had
dwindled.

At least 391 deaths from drought-related illnesses have been
reported in the region.

Wenas said the regency was prioritizing aid to villages worst
hit by food shortages.

"We will drop the relief later to villages which can still
produce their own food," Wenas told The Jakarta Post by phone
from Jayawijaya.

He said his administration was considering dropping the food
and medicine to local churches, which are dotted throughout the
regency.

"This will be in anticipation of drought conditions that are
likely to get worse in the next three months," Wenas said.

The churches, Wenas said, would be well placed to channel the
relief to local tribespeople living in villages scattered
throughout the regency, which has an area equivalent to the size
of East Java.

Wenas said there is now a great need for more rice, milk
powder and cooking oil.

"The cooking oil is not for cooking cookies though, but to
feed children who are suffering from malnutrition," Wenas said.
"It is good for vitamin A."

Wenas said the channeling of the relief was being conducted
"gradually" to avoid problems which may arise from a sudden
change in diet.

The administration's mobile team of doctors have been deployed
since last month, he said.

Wenas said that the cooperation between his administration,
local churches, non-governmental organizations, the military and
the Freeport mining company, in coping with the disaster had been
"wonderful" so far.

Local churches have made their radio communications equipment
available for providing much-needed information to the
administration, he said.

Two airplanes and a helicopter have been provided by the
Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) and Protestant Advent
Foundation and Freeport.

Wenas said the Irian Jaya District Military had offered its
helicopters to be used for dropping food relief to remote
villages, but the offer for the moment had not been taken up.

"The available aircraft, a Cessna from Advent and a Caravan
from MAF and a chopper from Freeport are enough for the moment,"
Wenas explained.

Asked what he needed most now apart from food relief, Wenas
said: "Avtur (airplane fuel)".

According to him, the current fuel supply was only sufficient
for another two days. At least 200 drums of fuel are needed to
help further air relief operations.

Commenting on the latest increase of drought-related deaths in
his regency, from 262 to 391, Wenas said that all the deaths
occurred more than two weeks ago.

"The figures have been slow coming in," he said.

On Sunday, Wenas reported to the governor of Irian Jaya that
at least 413 people died in August and September in the regencies
of Jayawijaya and Merauke.

Most of the victims died of cholera after drinking dirty
water.

Wenas also said yesterday that envoys from USAid, the
Australian Embassy and the United Nations had visited the area
and learned about the relief needed by the regency. (aan)

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