Jakarta - Starvation and related illnesses have killed at least 92 people in a remote district of Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua, officials said Monday. Ones Pahabol, the chief of Papua's Yahukimo Regency, said villages in 26 sub-districts were starving as the sweet potato harvest, the main staple food in the area, failed due to prolonged heavy rains.

"Protracted rains in the area caused the villagers' harvest of sweet potatoes to be less than expected," the state-run Antara news agency quoted Pahabol as saying.

Between January and August, at least 92 people have died from starvation and other illnesses triggered by malnutrition, Pahabol said.

The central government in Jakarta is sending food aid of 100 tons of rice, sweet potatoes and other foodstuffs including as noodles, Rizal Malarangeng from the Peoples' Welfare Ministry said.

Australia gets fat off the stolen Papuan riches off Freeport which is why Oz and Indonesia have such close relations, resulting in the Lombok Treaty.

Anon,
get your facts straight.

Freeport Mining in West Papua has SFA to do with Australia.

Not that this absolves the Australian Govt's for its lack of fortitude, in not standing up to the indonesians four decades ago.

You are an idiot......Ralph.