Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 14, Number 12, 1 December 1997 — DROUGHT IN PNG [ARTICLE]

DROUGHT IN PNG

PAPUA NEW GUINEA — Drought relief officials in Papua New Guinea are concerned that large numbers of hungry villagers ffom Irian Jaya will cross the border into Papua New Guinea in search of food. The drought has devastated harvests in the Indonesian province. The Indonesian minister for youth affairs, Hayono Isman, who visited the region, said tens of thousands of people are facing starvation. An Australian Defense Force airlift has been extended to Irian Jayan refugees in the Papua New Guinea western province border region. An influx of thousands of people from Irian Jaya would put further strain on the relief effort in Papua New Guinea, but officials say they will help all who need assistance.

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