The Jakarta Post, April 11, 2006
Famine looms in Maluku
AMBON, Maluku: People living in 12 villages and five kampongs in Wuarlabobar
district in West Southeast Maluku regency, Maluku, face possible famine as their
crops have been devastated by grasshoppers, one of the residents said Tuesday.
"The local people have been forced to depend entirely on sago, as corn and other
tubers were devoured (by grasshoppers), Chayas Wuarlela told The Jakarta Post by
phone from Saumlaki, the capital of West Southeast Maluku.
Piet Norimarna, secretary for the West Southeast Maluku regental administration,
admitted that food shortages were common in the region as the land was infertile.
Some of the farmers had turned to fishing, but ended up only with small catches.
They usually bartered the fish for food supplies from other areas, he said.
"Not all of the villages are hit by a food crisis, but are simply in need of food aid. This
happens every year," Norimarna said. -- JP
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