In a press release issued here on Friday, Central Papua acting governor Ribka Haluk said the food assistance includes rice, instant noodles, mineral water, sugar, coffee, tea, and other staple commodities.
“On Thursday (January 4, 2024), we distributed food using a Caravan aircraft so that it could arrive faster than through land routes,” she said.
She informed that her side has been distributing food assistance since December 26, 2023.
The provincial government, she said, is also hoping to get assistance from other parties that want to help Puncak residents.
“We have prepared a special plane that can carry foodstuffs and arrive faster,” Haluk added.
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She explained that the residents’ condition in the two sub-districts of Puncak has gradually improved, although they have not resumed their normal daily activities.
“In August 2023, we formed a team to overcome the drought due to hail,” she said.
Extreme weather, including hail, has led to starvation in Agandugume and Lambewi, Puncak.
Earlier, the provincial government distributed social assistance worth Rp12.1 billion to empower people’s economy in eight districts.
The province also formed a task force to handle stunting, control inflation, and erase extreme poverty in the region.
The government has committed to handling the drought and famine in Agandugume, Lambewi, and Oneri in Puncak district, Central Papua.
The dry winter season in the region has led to crop failure as well as shortages of food and clean water.
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Translator: Qadri P, Kenzu
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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