More food aid reaches remote Yahukimo villages in Papua
More food aid reaches remote Yahukimo villages in Papua
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Yahukimo
More helicopters have been sent to drop emergency food aid in
outlying villages of the famine-stricken Papua regency of
Yahukimo.
The government turned to helicopters to quickly reach the
remote areas, which are not accessible to planes due to the
absence of an airport.
An Army chopper, piloted by Capt. Agus Yogi, flew to Biagema
and Hilipuk villages to drop 10 kilograms of rice, 10 boxes of
instant noodles, three boxes of baby food, two boxes of biscuits,
15 blankets, 150 sarongs and a pack of cassava, the staple food
of the locals.
Located some 45 minutes flight from Wamena, Biagema is
situated in the middle of steep hills. The village can also be
reached by river.
Only seasoned pilots are able to fly helicopters through a
tunnel-like passage between the hills to reach the village.
Dozens of boys emerged from the trees as the chopper touched
down. The helicopter, however, was on the ground for just five
minutes to unload the humanitarian aid before it flew to the
other village.
"If we stay longer, we couldn't make it back (to Wamena). The
weather changes very quickly, and we may be trapped here if the
clouds come," Agus told The Jakarta Post.
It took the helicopter 15 minutes to arrive in Dekai, the
capital of Yahukimo, to drop off emergency food aid for residents
in Hilipuk village.
The helicopter dropped 10 sacks of rice and 20 boxes of
instant noodles in Hilipuk.
"We distribute food aid to villages that can't be accessed
even by small planes like a Cessna," said Jayawijaya military
commander Lt. Col. Sarjono.
Upon hearing the helicopter roaring in, Hilipuk residents came
out of their traditional houses called honai to collect the food.
The stop-over lasted only five minutes.
The residents looked very happy when they picked up the aid
packages.
"Thank you, don't forget to send more aid," a resident told a
chopper crew member.
There is no road connecting Biagema and Hilipuk villages with
the outer world. People have several hills and valleys to walk
through to reach the nearest airport in Dekai.
Green fields mixed with barren land were spotted near the
villages. Sarjono said residents of the village would suffer from
starvation if they experienced a crop failure due to their
isolation.
"Those who live near the airport can easily get food from the
city, but people living at the foot of the mountains will face
difficulties in securing it," Sarjono said.
The failure to harvest sweet potatoes has been blamed for the
famine in the regency, which is home to 55,000 people. As many as
55 people have died of malnutrition.
However, the government has repeatedly denied reports of
starvation.
The Yahukimo relief aid task force said those who wish to
donate money to help the regency's people should inquire with
Bank Mandiri or Bank Rakyat Indonesia.