Regional Secretary of Puncak District, Central Papua, Darwin Tobing, stated here on Friday that airlines are reluctant to fly to the sub-districts of Agandugume and Lambewi that are experiencing food scarcity due to extreme weather.
Extreme cold weather in the regions since June has caused crop failure.
The Puncak district government has attempted to deliver the food aid through Sinak Sub-district from where they will continue the delivery by foot.
It would take about two days to reach Agandugume Sub-district, Tobing remarked.
According to Tobing, none of the airlines are willing to serve flights to the sub-districts following some cases of hostage-taking and the shooting down of planes serving the hinterlands, despite security guarantees provided by local residents.
Currently, humanitarian assistance from various parties, including those from the Indonesian Military Chief, are still in Timika, awaiting transportation to Agandugume.
From Agandugume, the aid will be distributed to Lambewi, he stated.
Earlier last week, Puncak District Head Willem Wandik said his administration placed the two sub-districts under emergency status from June to August due to extreme weather.
The disaster has affected three thousand people in Agandugume Sub-district and four thousand people in Lambewi Sub-district, according to the district's Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD).
The Social Affairs Ministry also sent 14 tons of humanitarian aid to the regions that arrived in Timika on Monday (July 24).
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Translator: Evarukdijati, Sri Haryati
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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