Vice President Orders Quick Action To Handle Starvation Disasters In Yahukimo Papua

Screenshot/President Ma'ruf Amin gave a press statement after inaugurating the project in Central Kalimantan

JAKARTA - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin said the government continues to monitor by preparing short and long-term solutions to deal with hunger disasters in Amuma District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Mountains.

"I will continue to monitor long-term preparation so that there will be no more shortages of food in several areas," said Vice President Ma'ruf after inaugurating the Citra Borneo Indah (CBI) Group project in Central Kalimantan, reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, October 25.

The vice president explained that this hunger disaster had previously occurred in Central Papua Province because the staple food of the residents, namely the tubers, experienced crop failure.

Therefore, the government has prepared infrastructure so that the sweet potato plant does not experience crop failure due to weather factors.

"For the long term, we have prepared staple foods there, whether sweet potatoes, sago. We plan to make the problem of sago and sweet potatoes according to the region, apart from rice," said the vice president.

Meanwhile, for short-term solutions, the government is sending logistical assistance to Yahukimo.

Meanwhile, Head of BNPB Lt. Gen. Suharyanto said the government immediately sent logistical assistance that could be used immediately after the Yahukimo Regency Government had declared an emergency response status.

Suharyanto said the assistance to be sent was in the form of 20 tons of rice, 10 thousand packs of ready-to-eat food, 10,000 packs of protein biscuits, and an operational budget of IDR 1 billion.

According to him, the assistance is initial support. Later, BNPB will coordinate with the local government and the Ministry of Social Affairs regarding the needs of other supporting goods.

From temporary data, around 100 houses were affected by landslides in the two districts, consisting of 70 houses that were slightly damaged and 30 houses were heavily damaged.

Houses that suffered minor damage will be given assistance of Rp. 15 million per house, while houses heavily damaged are given assistance of Rp. 60 million per house.

Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy said that hunger due to crop failure was due to extreme weather that occurred in the Papua Mountains area. Meanwhile, landslides have occurred due to high intensity rain since the end of August 2023.