31 Jan 2007

Food shortages for thousands of Papuan

8:36 pm on 31 January 2007

There are reports from Indonesia that thousands of people in the Papua region, who have fled a military crackdown on separatists, are facing food shortages.

The Jakarta Post says the crisis is hitting refugees in the Yamo district of the Puncak Jaya regency where soldiers and police attacked Free Papua Movement rebels.

The paper quotes the Evangelical Church of Indonesia as saying more than 5,000 people are now facing hunger.

The church says people are living in desperate conditions, with up to eight families living in accommodation fit for just two families.