Number of drought-related deaths rises in Irian Jaya
Number of drought-related deaths rises in Irian Jaya
JAKARTA (JP): The number of drought-related deaths in three
Irian Jaya regencies rose to 271 yesterday as haze
continued to hinder relief operations to the disaster-stricken
area.
Minister of Social Services Inten Soeweno said after meeting
President Soeharto at Merdeka Palace that 253 people had died in
the Jayawijaya regency, 11 in the Merauke regency, and seven from
the Puncak Jaya regency.
Seventy-three other people were being treated by doctors in
Merauke, she said.
Inten said the government had sent food, medical supplies and
other relief to the area.
"Relief has been dispatched to the location despite the very
difficult terrain. We will continue to watch and monitor," she
said.
Inten said Soeharto suggested people come down from the
mountains if relief could not reach them.
A staff from a humanitarian social group in Wamena said
yesterday thick haze forced authorities in Jayawijaya, a remote
area of rugged mountains and heavy jungle, to delay air
operations to relieve several drought-stricken villages.
Food and water has been dispatched by air.
World Vision Indonesia's Sukoyo told The Jakarta Post that if
the conditions permitted air operations to Kuyawage village,
Jayawijaya, would resume today with planes provided by the
Mission Aviation Fellowship.
The heavy smoke which has hampered relief operations is from
the widespread forest fires in surrounding areas.
The fires have spread to several parts of Irian Jaya including
the Lorentz national park.
The fire has destroyed up to 80,000 hectares of forest in
Irian Jaya alone.
Sukoyo said the Kuyawage village was targeted because it was
one of the villages worst hit by this year's drought.
"Many villagers there have been eating withered cassava
because their farms have been parched by the frost," he said.
Meanwhile, Jayawijaya Regent JB Wenas said this year's dry
season had also caused Jayawijaya's vegetable crops to fail,
affecting supply to the provincial capital Jayapura.
Wenas was quoted by Antara, as saying the regency's entire
agricultural crop was doomed if the drought continued for another
three months.
The Meteorology and Geophysics Agency expects the wet season
in Irian Jaya to come late.
Wenas said the dire situation had prompted him to call for
help from other provinces.
The head of the Jayapura logistics agency, Tubagus Husaen,
promised Tuesday there would be no famine in Wamena because the
town had 1,400 tons of rice stored.
Tubagus said the town had enough rice to feed Jayawijaya's
50,000 people for the next four-and-a-half months.
He said the agency would add an extra 3,000 tons.
"But the additional stock has no connection with the famine in
the area," he was quoted by Antara as saying. (prb/aan)
Editorial -- Page 4