Ministry of Social Affairs Distributes Nduga Refugee Assistance Stage II

JAKARTA (July 22, 2019)  ̶ The Ministry of Social Affairs confirmed that all aid phase II was completed this week. Minister of Social Affairs Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said that he had received a report from the Directorate General of Social Protection for Social Disaster Victims team which stated that all aid phase II would be flown to Wamena Regency this week.

"The certainty of sending aid was obtained after the Social Protection for Social Disaster Victims team coordinated with security forces, the Papua Provincial Office and the Wamena District Office. Furthermore, the task of the Wamena District Office was to distribute it," Agus said in Jakarta, today.

Agus explained that the handling of IDP victims of the Nduga Regency conflict must involve all elements of the central government, regional governments and the military / police. The government in handling refugees is very careful because it is very different from the handling of refugees’ victims of natural disasters.

"With the cooperation of all elements, the problems faced by refugees can be resolved," explained Minister of Social Affair.

Director General of Social Protection and Security of the Ministry of Social Affairs Harry Hikmat acknowledged that the government is currently experiencing problems in collecting data on refugees due to conflict in Nduga Regency. The obstacle is because many of them are in the homes of their relatives.

"Many of them live in the homes of their relatives in Wamena. This makes identification difficult," explained Harry.

Based on the report given by Military District Command 1702 Jayawijaya, it was stated that refugees in the regency had returned to their families' homes. "In Jayawijaya Regency there are no more refugees."

"The report also mentioned that there was no stopping aid to refugees in Lanijaya Regency. Lanijaya Regency Government continues to distribute logistical aid to refugees there, "he added.

The Military District Command report also responded to the news stating the existence of refugees who died due to no treatment from the government. For that, the government questioned the source of the news.

"Wamena Regency Social Service states that up to now it has not received reports of casualties," said Harry

The aid to refugees due to armed conflict in Papua Province consists of two phases with a value of.Rp740,449,000.

The first phase that has been distributed in the form of 50 tons of Government Rice Reserve consists of 10 tons through Jayapura, 10 tons to Mbua district, Yal district, Mbulmu Yalma district and 30 tons through Wamena Regency. This aid has been handed over to the district government of Nduga.

In addition, the local government also distributed basic food aid in the first phase to refugees’ victims of the Nduga conflict. The staple food consisted of 1,680 cartons of noodles, 9,520 kg of sugar, 9,873 liters of cooking oil, 19,200 packs of salt, 9,550 cans of canned fish, 9,550 packs of coffee and 50 kg of rice.

While the second phase of aid consists of 250 packages of play equipment, 250 packages of children's learning equipment, 30 packages of sports equipment, 850 packages of equipment for the needs of vulnerable groups (toddlers, elderly, special needs) and currently resides in the social service warehouse of Papua Province and ready to be flown to Wamena.

In addition to providing food and other necessities the Ministry of Social Affairs also provided Psychosocial Support Services assistance in February.

The Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs has conducted a Psychosocial Support Services activity assessment. The results of the assessment, among others, stated that the urgent need besides basic needs was health services because many survivors were injured as a result of walking from Nduga Regency to Jayawijaya Regency. The assessment was carried out on survivors of elementary school age children through high school and teachers who teach in emergency schools in the Kingmi Church, Sinakma District, Jayawijaya Regency, Papua Province.

The results of the assessment also showed the difficulty of the officers in collecting data on refugees due to the absence of special shelter. They are scattered in the homes of relatives so that their basic needs are not monitored. The condition of existing schools based on the results of the assessment shows that the condition of emergency schools made of tarpaulin and wood is inadequate as a place for learning and teaching, considering that some children will face the National Examination.

2,000 Residents Displaced

Conflicts caused by armed clashes between the Indonesian National Police and armed criminal groups led by Egainus Kogoya in Yal District, Nduga Regency on February 26, 2019 caused residents in the Districts of Mbua, Yal, Yigi, Mapenduma, Nikuri, and Mbulmu Yalma to evacuate.

It is estimated that around 2,000 displaced people are scattered in Mbua District, Yal District, Mbulmu Yalma District, Nduga Regency and Wamena District.

The number of refugees of elementary school, junior high school and high school students is around 600 people recorded in Mbua District, Yal District, Mbulmu Yalma District, Nduga Regency while in Wamena District it is not known for certain because the refugee conditions are in their respective families or tribes.

Likewise, the number of adult refugees and other vulnerable groups still cannot be recorded because of security conditions and people who are still afraid to communicate with parties outside their tribe or family.

Head of the Public Relations Bureau Ministry of Social Affairs RI

Sonny W Manalu