goodmorningpapua.com – The Regional Secretary (Sekda) of Papua Province, Ridwan Ruikutun, and an Acting (Pj.) Regent of Lanny Jaya, Petrus Wakerkwa, went directly to deal with the impact of the hail natural disaster that hit a number of villages in Kuyawage District, Lanny Jaya Regency. Various efforts were made to overcome the impact of the disaster by involving a joint team consisting of the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) and the Social Service and Health Office of Lanny Jaya Regency.
Petrus Wakerkwa explained that the hail is a natural phenomenon occuring every 15 years or every 6 years. After the natural phenomena that signaled the imminent disaster, a month before the disaster arrived, the local government (Pemda) took early handling steps. One of the ways to do this is by distributing logistics for people in the Kuyawage District, West Wano District, and Goa Balim District.
Furthermore, after receiving a report regarding the hail disaster incident on Monday (18/7/2022) from the people of the Kuyawage District, the Lanny Jaya Regency Government formed a team the next day. The team was then dispatched to the impacted location to carry out treatment.
“On Thursday, July 21, 2022, the Lanny Jaya Regency Government has sent and distributed aid to affected locations in the form of 9.8 tons of rice and other basic necessities which are sufficient to temporarily use the affected residents,” Wakerkwa wrote in Letter Number 131/302/BUP. /2022 concerning Reports of Natural Disasters.
The Lanny Jaya Regency Government has also established an Emergency Response Status for the Natural Disaster of Frost and Hail in the Kuyawage District which is valid from July 25 to October 25, 2022.
Apart from the local government, the assistance was also obtained from the Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) on 19 to 20 July 2022. Then the Lanny Jaya Regency Government and a team from the Ministry of Social Affairs distributed the assistance to affected communities.
Furthermore, on August 4, 2022, the Lanny Jaya Regency Government sent a health team to the disaster site. The team consisted of 11 people consisting of 1 doctor and 10 other health workers. Then a Disaster Emergency Response Command Post was established at Tiom Airport, which was commanded by Wakerkwa.
“On Monday, August 8, 2022, the Lanny Jaya Regency Government will distribute further assistance in the form of 10 tons of rice and other basic necessities to disaster-affected locations,” Wakerkwa wrote.
It is known, the natural disaster resulted in hundreds of people losing their food ingredients. Their health condition also declines due to consuming foods that already contain substances that are harmful to the body.
Based on a report from the Kuyawage District community on July 18, 2022, the disaster affected 548 families which included 2,740 persons. In addition, four persons were reported to have died and 61 persons had diarrhea. However, based on the team’s investigation, one of the four who died was due to a congenital disease.
“So that there are 3 children under five who died, and it is not true that 4 persons have died,” he said.
However, when the local government group and the Ministry of Social Affairs arrived at the location, the group received information from the medical team about the presence of pregnant women who had delivery problems. The team then moved to evacuate the patient to Wamena Hospital using air transportation. But unfortunately, on August 5, 2022, the patient was reported to have died.
“So the number of people who died after the disaster until today (Sunday) 7 August 2022 is 4 people,” wrote Wakerkwa.