TEMPO.CO, Jayapura - Papua Governor Lukas Enembe downplayed the fact that more than 6,000 residents of Agandugume District in Puncak, Papua Province are seriously facing starvation after their crops were destroyed by continuous hail that began on July 5, 2015.
"Such natural phenomenon is common. I've coordinated with the Regent and Vice Regent of Puncak Regency, who have agreed to assume responsibility over the consequences of the phenomenon, including the responsibility to distribute food aid and medication," said Enembe to the press at his office in Jayapura on Monday, July 13, 2015.
Distribution of aid have been hampered by the continuous bad weather. Worse still, the area affected could only be reached by air using light-bodied aircraft.
The Head of Papua's Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), Didi Agus Prihatno, said that residents of Agamdugume, Tuput, and Jiwot are facing an immediate threat of starvation and exposure to cold.
"According to our data, there are 6,150 people residing in those villages - which could only be reached by light aircrafts," said Didi in Jayapura. Efforts to distribute aid have been further hampered by the fact that authorities are still waiting for an available aircrafts to be used to airdrop basic necessities needed by affected residents.
"We will keep on trying to ensure that their needs are met by air dropping these aids," said Didi.
Didi said that the continuous hail - which often occurs between June and July - has destroyed food crops planted by residents who rely on these for sustenance. "That said, if the hail keeps on happening, crop failure could happen. The crops they rely on could turn poisonous if exposed to continuous cold - and those who consume it could suffer from diarrhea," he said.
Currently, residents are surviving by eating ferns and pumpkins - which are increasingly becoming more scarce.
CUNDING LEVI