Ministry of Social Affairs Distributes Aid to Nduga Evacuees

WAMENA, JAYAWIJAYA (October 8, 2019) - The Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs distributed social assistance to refugees from Nduga Regency spread across Nduga Regency, Lanijaya Regency, Jayawijaya Regency, and Mimika Regency.

"As directed by the Minister of Social Affairs Mr. Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita to distribute aid immediately, today we met with district representatives and Nduga residents to immediately send aid. They conveyed that the current urgent assistance is rice," said Director General of Social Protection and Security Harry Hikmat after meeting with representatives of Nduga residents at the Nduga Regency Logistics Warehouse in Wamena, Monday (7/10).

The Director General said the districts that are planned to be distribution points are the Mbua Region (Mbuwa District, Dal District, Mbulmuyalma District), Yigi Region (Yigi District, Nirkuri District, Inikgal District), Mapenduma Region (Mapenduma District and Kegayem District), Wamena Regency, Lanijaya Regency (Kuwayage District), and Mimika Regency.

The assistance currently in the Nduga Regency Warehouse in Wamena is the third phase of assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs.

"We on behalf of the government through the Ministry of Social Affairs handed over a number of aids to meet the basic needs of our brothers and sisters in Nduga who are scattered in various districts. Hopefully it can be utilized as well as possible for the benefit of the community," said the Director General in a symbolic handover of assistance with Nduga residents.

He said the assistance for Nduga had been distributed to the Nduga Regency Social Office divided into three stages. He detailed, for the first phase of assistance in the form of food logistics and rice worth IDR 2.5 billion.

The second stage of assistance is in the form of equipment packages consisting of  school uniforms for elementary to high school student, children's play equipment, children's learning equipment, sports equipment, equipment for vulnerable groups of the elderly and special needs. The total assistance for the second phase was IDR 740,449,000.

While the third phase of assistance worth IDR 419,192,985 consists of rice, supplementary food (anchovies, salt, biscuits, milk) and logistics packages (side dishes, ready meals, clothing and children's food).

"We welcome the arrival of representatives of Nduga residents to see firsthand the assistance they will receive. Furthermore, the team from the Nduga Regency Social Office will arrange the delivery of aid according to the schedule agreed with the Nduga residents," said the Director General.

Meanwhile, met at the Nduga Regency Logistics Warehouse in Wamena, a Nduga resident named Pina said she was very grateful and thankful for the assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs. He admitted that he came to the logistics warehouse to see firsthand the assistance that would be given to residents in his district.

"We still receive assistance from the ministry for the people of Nduga and we distributed it to them. Thank you," said Pina.

The Director General added that along with the distribution of the third phase of aid, the Ministry of Social Affairs has also finished processing the fourth phase of aid for Nduga.

"While the process of distributing the third stage of assistance, as ordered by the Minister of Social Affairs, the fourth stage of assistance for Nduga residents is also ready to be distributed," explained the Director General.

As is known, social conflict in Nduga Regency, Papua Province occurred on December 1, 2018 between the TNI / Polri and the Armed Criminal Group in Yal District, Nduga Regency.

As a result of this conflict, residents in Mbua, Yal, Yigi, Mapenduma, Nikuri, and Mbulmu Yalma Districts were displaced. The Ministry of Social Affairs sent assistance to fulfill basic needs including clothing, food and Psychosocial Support Services.


Acting Head of Public Relations Bureau RI Ministry of Social Affairs

Sonny W. Manalu