Thousands Face Famine on Island
From Times Wire Reports
Tens of thousands of people face famine in a drought-stricken corner of Indonesia where forest fires have burned many homes and hampered relief flights, a newspaper reported. The paper quoted official reports attributing 500 deaths in Irian Jaya, the western half of the island of New Guinea, to hunger and disease brought on by the drought. It said 90,000 people urgently need food and water. Seventeen people were reported missing in fires in Jayawijaya, one of the hardest-hit areas.
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