Jakarta – Vice President Ma'ruf Amin convened on Wednesday an emergency meeting at his private residence in Central Jakarta to discuss the monthslong drought in Papua, which has claimed six lives so far.
Joining Ma'ruf at the meeting were Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD, Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Adm. Yudo Margono and National Police chief Gen. Listyo Sigit.
"This is a direct follow-up to the President's directive that the incident in Central Papua be dealt with quickly," vice presidential spokesman Masduki Baidlowi said in a statement released on Wednesday, referring to cases of drought affecting remote areas of eastern Papua.
Six people have died since June in the mountainous Puncak district of Central Papua due to unusual snowfall, which was immediately followed by a prolonged dry season that impacted local crops.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said in a statement that authorities would start sending food, milk and other aid on Wednesday to the region, which is accessible only by two-wheeled vehicles and helicopters.
Masduki said he expected the meeting might issue recommendations on follow-up measures to prevent the drought-induced famine from spreading.
"The next step would be to take steps so the [drought] doesn't happen in other areas," Masduki said.
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Monday instructed relevant authorities to solve the dual crisis in Central Papua, referring to it as "a specific area that during snow season [...] no crops can grow".