- VIVAnews/Tri Saputro
VIVAnews - The news of six residents died of starvation became a serious blow to the government of South Timor Tengah (TTS) regency, East Nusa Tenggara. Despite continuously saying that the information was not true, the local government finally made an act.
As much as 50 tons of rice was sent to East Amanuban and South Amanuban to solve the food crisis. The aid was delivered directly by the government-formed special team that will first collect data to register the exact number of the affected residents.
Head of Disaster Management Agency of TTS, Martinus Tafui, said the local government has conducted a coordination meeting on Thursday night and agreed to take immediate emergency measures to prevent more casualties from falling.
"The meeting was chaired by TTS Regent, Paul Mella," said Martinus, Friday.
He denied any reports of deaths due to starvation. "Based on reports there was a resident who died because of starvation. Actually it’s not because of food shortage, but rather from falling from palm trees when tapping rubber," he said.
Martinus went on, in addition to food, the government will provide aid of water pumps to help the irrigation of resident’s fields and plantations that are hit by drought.
Meanwhile, East Nusa Tenggara gubernatorial spokesperson Ursula Dando said in her statement, Governor of East Nusa Tenggara Frans Leburaya had asked the Social Services to deploy a team to probe into the case. "The team has surveyed the location on Friday morning. They will be in TTS for some days," said Ursula.
Member of South Central Timor regional representative council, Arifin Betty, who was contacted separately, said some villages were undergoing food crisis, among others Oekiu, Nait, Kiufatu, Kiubaa and Toineke. "The villages are in Kualin district, South Amanuban and Kolbano," said Arifin.
Six South Central Timor residents reportedly died over the month following the food crisis that hit the area. Meanwhile thousands of other residents were in a state of serious food shortages and require the government’s and humanitarian agencies’ intervention.
Some residents had to consume seeds to survive. Others were reported consuming tubers or forest nuts. "Many men are forced to leave their family to become laborers in Kupang and only returned to their village after payday," said Arifin.
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Coverage by: Jemris Fointuna | Kupang
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