Jakarta, IO – This was conveyed by a number of environmental activists following the death of six residents due to famine.
The disaster occurred as a result of a drought which caused a number of areas in Papua, especially the central part, to experience crop failure, per BBC Indonesia, Thursday (3/7).
An agricultural observer from the University of Papua, Mulyadi, said the government should anticipate potential disasters earlier so that similar problems do not continue to recur. According to him, the food aid sent by the government is not enough to address the problem.
He emphasized that instead of piecemeal solutions, the government should think about long-term solutions such as conducting research and developing innovations in agriculture so that farmers in Papua can be empowered.
On the other hand, Acting Deputy of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Ardhasena Sopaheluwakan said extreme weather is impossible to anticipate in the long term.
According to him, the step that needs to be considered is ensuring food availability for the community.
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“The problem is not just climate, there are other issues as well. In terms of supply chain and access due to the remote location,” explained Ardhasena.
The government has continued to distribute food aid to reduce the impact of famine in Papua. More than 8 tons of food has been sent regularly, in addition to 2.92 tons of assistance from the military. (un)