Papua: Sudden change in weather leaves 11 dead and threatens food supplies
Jakarta (AsiaNews) - At least 11 people have died so far in a sudden - and abnormal, for the area and the season – overnight cold snap that has invested the district of Lanny Jaya, in the province of Papua, the easternmost of 'Indonesian archipelago.
Local sources speak of sudden "climate change", that manifests itself with the rapid drop in temperature at night and the formation of hailstones that fall from the sky. The phenomenon has affected at least 11 villages in the area of West Wano, where there were victims.
In terms of climate, in Indonesia – AN archipelago that stretches along the tropics - there are only two seasons that alternate throughout the year: the rainy season, between November and April, and the dry season between May and October. During this period there are summer temperatures and reduced rainfall. However, a particular phenomenon - according to experts linked to climate change - is taking place with increasing frequency in some villages in Papua.
During the night, temperatures suddenly plummet close to zero and hailstones of various sizes fall from the sky. An anomalous situation and that takes people and animals by surprise, considering that daytime temperatures hover between 33 and 40 degrees centigrade.
This abnormal night-time occurrence has also caused a food crisis in the area, because the cold has led to the death of many animals (pigs, chickens) and freezing of vegetables and fruits in the fields, so they are now unusable.
Christian Siholait, Lanny Jaya district official, said that this "climate change" was also recorded in other areas as Kuyawage and Gowa Baliem, where there are at least 15 villages of natives. "From our information - he explains - there are at least 26 villages in three isolated districts, who need food aid urgently." The local population is at risk of survival if not treated promptly.
He calls for action by microlight aircraft, able to distribute food and drinks quickly and efficiently. "The price for renting them is 3 thousand dollars - adds Siholait – while normally it takes weeks to reach all the affected areas." In one district of Lanny Jaya there are 400 families affected by the phenomenon, but throughout the area there are at least 1200 households at risk of hunger and becoming victims of sudden climate change.
In recent weeks the subject of climate change has become a source of debate in Indonesia, especially within the Christian community. A reflection facilitated by the publication of the Pope Francis’s encyclical "Laudato sì", which clearly shows that the environmental problem is a "global issue" and not a "secondary concern".
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