Markus Makur, Timika – As much as 80 percent of Papua's population of about 2 million lives in destitution, despite the natural wealth of the province, according to an official in the Papua provincial administration.

Most of the poor, living in outlying, mountainous and coastal areas, have not been able to lift themselves out of poverty, second assistant to the provincial administration, Hendrik P. Kaiseppo, said.

The problem is aggravated by the lack of effective and accountable local administrations to serve the people, in addition to inadequate infrastructure and human resources, he said.

Speaking during the Papua Agricultural and Forestry Development Planning conference in Mimika regency earlier this month, Kaiseppo said that in the special autonomy era, Papua had the authority to address every issue faced by the people, especially poverty, which hampers development across the province.

Kaiseppo said Papuans were unable to fully exploit the natural reserves in the province, and thus were unable to improve their living standards.

He ascribed poverty in Papua to inadequate basic infrastructure, and said the provincial administration had made rural infrastructure construction, healthcare and human resources development its top priorities.

The administration, he said, has focused on sustainable programs such as people's economy empowerment, creating job opportunities, food and nutritional enhancement, healthcare and education, proper housing and clean water facilities.

Asked what the trillions of rupiah in special autonomy funds had been spent on, Kaiseppo said the administration remained focused on empowering the people, but limited facilities and infrastructure, as well as inadequate human resources, were the main stumbling blocks to development in Papua.

He said some people had benefited from special autonomy, but acknowledged a number of setbacks, including people's general lack of awareness of the programs.

He cited Mimika as a regency abundant with natural wealth but where poverty still prevailed. According to data, Mimika is home to 155,520 people, of which 29,000 families are registered recipients of the government's rice-for-the-poor program.

On Karaka Island in Far East Mimika district and in Kampong Asmat, both rich in natural wealth, the majority of residents still live below the poverty line.

Acting Mimika Regent Atanasius Allo Rafra said his office would earmark Rp 62 billion (approximately US$6.8 million) from its special autonomy funds and the regency budget to empower rural communities and initiate infrastructure projects.

The administration has disbursed funds to villages in remote and mountainous areas to improve people's living standards, he said.