Indonesia military sends aid after deadly drought in Papua

Indonesia has sent emergency aid to its easternmost province of Papua, where a drought has killed six people, including a baby, and left thousands without water since June, officials said Tuesday. Disaster officials blamed the El Nino weather phenomenon generally associated with a rise in global temperatures for the drought and extreme cold weather that has caused crop failures and left many without access to water in the worst-hit Pucak regency in Central Papua.

Indonesia's national disaster mitigation agency said Monday the drought has affected more than 7,500 people. At least six people died from starvation and dehydration, officials said. Similar droughts hit the region in 2015 and 2019.The United Nations has warned the world to prepare for the prolonged effects of El Nino, which occurs on average every two-to-seven years with episodes that typically last nine to 12 months.