Out of water, now out of food

CIAMIS, West Java: The extremely severe dry spell has not only caused water shortages in the area, but now it is threatening the food supply in Cigugur district.

Some 1,740 out of the 2,875 inhabitants in Pagerbumi village have been treated for food-deficiency related diseases, district chief M. Setiawan reported.

The 150 hectare of rice fields in the village, which are the main source of food for the inhabitants, have dried up due to the prolonged lack of rain.

The district chief said he has alerted the Ciamis regent to help relieve the food shortage in the village. (emb)