Sabon village head, Petrus Buniawi (Jubi)
Merauke, 10/3 ( Jubi ) – Residents of Sabon village in Merauke regency are facing a possible famine after their tuber and banana crops were damaged by sea water.
Sabon village head Petrus Buniawi said sea water entered villagers’ farms at a height of approximately one meter.
“The houses are safe because they are generally stilt houses,”he told tabloidjubi.com at Pangkat hall in Kelapa Lima, Merauke, Papua on Monday (10/3) .
However, Buniawi said, crops such as tubers , vegetables and bananas which were ready for harvest were destroyed.
“Frankly , the people just let it go and are not able to do much. We hope that the government can help us ,” Buniawi said.
A member of the Merauke Representatives Council , Dominikus Ulukyanan such the incident in Sabon happened almost every year and the government must come up with the right solution to prevent similar disasters in the future.
Merauke regent, Romanus Mbaraka said the government has distributed aid including 60 tons of rice and other basic necessities to Waan district for the last few weeks.
“I have received the report and instructed officials to deliver assistance so the people can have their daily meals” said Romanus. ( Jubi / Frans L Kobun/ Tina )
