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No more drought-induced famine in Central Papua, govt claims
Residents in drought-hit districts have received food supplies from Timika, the largest city from the affected Puncak regency in Central Papua.
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National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) head Suharyanto (fourth left) and Coordinating Human Development Minister Muhadjir Effendy (fourth right) examine food aid at Mozes Kilangin airport in Timika, Central Papua, on Aug. 2, 2023. The humanitarian aid was to be distributed to residents of Puncak regency, Central Papua, affected by famine caused by prolonged drought. (-/Courtesy of BNPB/Handout)
T
he government says residents of Puncak regency, Central Papua, have returned to their normal activities following the distribution of tonnes of food aid to the area.
People residing in Agandugume and Lambewi districts in Puncak had been scrambling for food due to a drought and cold snap hitting the area since June. The weather phenomenon, combined with the high altitude of Puncak exacerbated the local food shortage, forcing locals to eat spoiled crops that left many ill.
Six people, including a baby, had died of dehydration or diarrhea, while some 7,500 others were starving, before disaster aid from authorities started to arrive in recent weeks.
“People have resumed their daily lives. They have started to eat normally,” Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendy told reporters on Monday, as quoted by kompas.com.
He visited the affected districts earlier this month, along with dozens of tonnes of disaster relief comprising food, blankets and clothing materials, among other aid.
“The local residents are being supplied [with food] daily from Timika,” Muhadjir said, referring to the largest city in Mimika regency, which borders drought-hit Puncak.
Read also: Aid arriving in drought-hit Papua as RI braces for dry spell
