The Impact Of Extreme Drought In Central Papua, 6 People Died

JAKARTA - The Regent of Puncak, Central Papua, Willem Wandik revealed that six of his residents were reported to have died due to illness due to extreme weather. The six people are residents of Agandugume District and Lambewi District, Puncak Regency.

"The information I received was that six people who reportedly died were sick, which was suspected to be due to extreme weather. Three people died each in the Agandugume district and 3 people from Lambewi District," said Regent Wandik in his statement, Friday, July 28.

Wandik stated that of the six residents of Puncak Regency who died, five people were adults and one newborn.

The identities of the victims who died in Agandugume District, namely Yenis Telenggen (38), Yemina Murib (42), and Ater Tabuni (46). Meanwhile, the victims in Lambewi District, namely Ila Telenggen (1 day), Tenus Murib (46), and Tera Murib (39).

"The victims experienced diarrhea. For the cause of diarrhea, the medical team that was deployed was still collecting data," he explained.

The Regent of Wandik explained that the extreme weather that occurred in Puncak Regency was an annual cycle. However, this time the cycle is longer and causes prolonged drought in the Puncak area of Papua.

"As a result of not rain for a long time, people's garden crops are all dry, so it's hot in the afternoon, while if the night is very cold until there is ice dew in the plants. That's what causes people's garden crops to die, while they really depend on garden products, both for food and for sale," explained Wandik.

Reportedly, extreme weather has occurred since May 2023 until now and hit two districts in Puncak Regency. There are about 7,000 residents affected by this extreme weather.

"About 3,000 residents in the Agandugume District and 4,000 residents of Lambewi District," said Wandik.

For this disaster, the Puncak Regency Government has established an emergency response status through the Regent's Decree Number 1,300.2/28/year 2023, starting from June 7 to August 7, 2023.

"The drought disaster that occurs is an annual cycle that usually lasts from May to August as a result of cold extreme weather and does not rain, causing plants to become damaged, rotten, when local residents eat causes stomach pain and diarrhea," explained Wandik.

Since May until now, the Puncak Regency Government itself has distributed 6 tons of food (bama), for drought victims in the two districts.

In addition, the TNI Commander, Admiral Yudo Margono and the Ministry of Social Affairs have also distributed 14 tons of ready-to-eat food aid and other assistance to overcome this disaster.