Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang
Thousands of residents in 27 villages in Timor Tengah Utara regency in East Nusa Tenggara have asked the government to distribute more rice, with 334 tons of rice distributed in March having already ran out.
"The food shortage this year is terrible. Each family received a ration of 20 kg of rice in March, but we have finished it. We need help from the government because many of us are starting to face hunger," said Edmundus, a resident from Humusu village, Insana Utara district, on Friday.
According to Edmundus, residents are surviving by selling their livestock or working as laborers.
"Many people are facing hunger now, forcing some of them to resort to theft to have food. Thieves, who have started roaming the north coast, have stolen a lot of livestock," Edmundus said.
Timor Tengah Utara Vice Regent Raymundus Fernandez said his office was making efforts to seek help from non-governmental organizations, relief agencies and the East Nusa Tenggara provincial administration in Kupang.
"The provincial administration has promised to provide 60 tons of rice from the social welfare office and will immediately send supplies to affected locations," Raymundus said.
However, he admitted the assistance would be insufficient to overcome the food shortages in the affected areas.
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