| Home > South-East Asia >> West Papua | |
AWPA calls on Australian government to help flood victims in Wasior
Australia West Papua Association (Sydney) Press Release - October 10, 2010
AWPA (Sydney) has written to Prime Minister Julia Gillard urging that as Australia is one of the best resourced countries in the region we should offer assistance to the Indonesian Government to help in their relief operations.
Joe Collins of AWPA said "we understand that the Australian Government's policy is only to provide assistance in response to partner government requests and that Australia does provide long-term assistance to Indonesia's disaster response authorities through the Australia -Indonesia Facility for Disaster Reduction.
However, as West Papua is one of our nearest neighbours we believe that the Australian Government should immediately offer any assistance required to the Indonesian government and local authorities to support them in their efforts to help the West Papuan people in the affected areas.
For more information contact Joe Collins on Mob 04077 857 97
Australia West Papua Association
(Sydney)
PO Box 28, Spit Junction,
Sydney, Australia 2088
Ph/fax 61.2.99601698 email:
bunyip@bigpond.net.au
The Hon Julia Gillard MP
Prime Minister
Parliament House
Canberra
ACT 2600
10 October 2010
Dear Prime Minister,
I am writing to you concerning the devastating floods which swept through the city of Wasior in West Papua due to torrential rain on the 3 and 4 October. Wasior is located right at the foothills of the Wondiwoi Mountains and the flash floods which hit Wasior were up to 3 meters high and swept a wall of mud, rocks and logs through the area. Latest figures indicate that over a hundred people have been killed,with up to 80 missing and another 4000 displaced.
A large number of buildings, roads and bridges have been destroyed or submerged under mud and debris as a result of the flooding making it difficult for rescue workers to operate. The Indonesian Red Cross has estimated that at least 60 per cent of the houses in the city were inundated by water.
There is the possibility that the death toll will rise because of the unknown number of people missing in the area and also the danger of disease as electricity has been cut off and health facilities in the area damaged or destroyed. The Indonesian Government is responding to the disaster.
We believe that as Australia is one of the best resourced countries in the area we should offer assistance to the Indonesian Government to help in their relief operations. We understand that the Australian Government's policy is only to provide assistance in response to partner government requests and that Australia does provide long-term assistance to Indonesia's disaster response authorities through the Australia -Indonesia Facility for Disaster Reduction.
However, as West Papua is one of our nearest neighbours we urge the Australian Government to immediately offer any assistance required to the Indonesian government and local authorities to support them in their efforts to help the people in the affected areas.
Yours sincerely
Joe Collins
Secretary
AWPA (Sydney)
See also:
 |
West Papua West Papua Links Statements and Press Releases on West Papua Indonesia Indoleft Archive Indonesia links Indonesia News Digest News services on Indonesia Publications & videos on Indonesia Reports & articles on Indonesia Statements & press releases on Indonesia