West Papua Governor Denies Reports of Malnutrition

Jayapura, Papua (Antara) - West Papua Governor Abraham O. Atururi here on Thursday denied information that malnutrition in Tambrauw District, West Papua Province, had claimed 95 lives. Abraham said there were only four people dead and they died not from malnutrition but from ordinary causes. A non governmental organization (NGO) has reported that malnutrition has caused the death of 95 people in five villages in the sub-district of Kwor in Tambrauw District. "The information that malnutrition has claimed 95 lives in the sub-district of Kwor is false," Abraham said. He said based on a report from the West Papua health service, there were only four local people dead. He acknowledged, however, there had been cases of malnutrition in that area but not as reported by the NGO. "No need to make big issue of that," he added. (*)