Wasior, West Papua (ANTARA) - The Social Affairs Ministry established a social granary in Wondama Bay District, West Papua, as a precautionary measure to meet the needs of residents in the disaster-prone region.

The ministry's representative, Komarudin, stated here on Friday that the existence of a social granary in the disaster-prone district is crucial to secure food supply, especially when disaster strikes the region.

"The social barn will not only be established temporarily. The social assistance channeled through the granary should be distributed to the public. This is part of our anticipatory steps for (handling) disasters," Komarudin remarked.

The Klasis Wondama Church was selected as the social granary in the district. Under its first stage, the ministry, on Tuesday (August 16), channeled food for infants and children to the granary.

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According to Komarudin, logistics stored in the social granary are mostly food with expiry dates.

Hence, the ministry has urged the church to distribute the social assistance to those in need in the district before the expiry dates are reached.

"Just send a letter (to the ministry) when you are out of stock because (the granary) is handled directly by the social affairs minister," he elaborated.

Head of the Klasis Wandoma Church Rosalie Wamafma applauded the establishment of the social granary in the district.

"We believe that God has many ways to help us," he remarked.

Wondama is located in a flood-prone area owing to the presence of 52 rivers, Head of the Wondama Bay Social Affairs Office Eka Wosiri said.

"Floods hit the area many times. Hence, we need help from the central government, in this case, the Social Affairs Ministry," Wosiri stated.

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Translator: Evarianus Supar, Sri Haryati
Editor: Suharto
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