30 Jul 2015

Water an urgent need in Papua province

1:37 pm on 30 July 2015

The Indonesian Red Cross Society says water is an urgent need for remote communities in the Papua region still suffering from a severe cold snap.

The society is delivering aid to the hard to reach Lanny Jaya district after hail storms and extreme cold weather left nine people dead and killed a large number livestock.

Thousands are in need of food and clean water as local sources are reportedly frozen or have been contaminated, and supplies of bottled water are unavailable in local markets.

Affected villages are nestled in high mountains, and delivering aid is a major challenge, with Red Cross volunteers having to walk for three days to deliver supplies.

So far 500 gallons of drinking water, as well as blankets and food have been delivered.

Indonesia's Papua region: the provinces of West Papua and Papua

Indonesia's Papua region: the provinces of West Papua and Papua Photo: RNZ