Papua clashes spark Catholic airlift operation
Aid is being flown in to help refugees as clashes between Indonesian forces, rebels make land-based bid too risky
Church aid workers hold up a banner that says Humanitarian aid for Bilogai in the hall of St. Michael s Church in Bilogai, Intan Jaya district. (Photo supplied)
The Indonesian Catholic Church says it has been forced to fly in aid to help more than 1,000 people sheltering in a church compound amid ongoing clashes between security forces and Papuan rebels.
Violence flared in and around the village of Bilogai in Papua’s Intan Jaya district on Feb. 10, forcing more than 6,000 people to flee their homes.