As with much of Indonesia, the country s eastern-most provinces of Papua and West Papua are struggling to contain the spread of Covid-19, with the Delta variant on the loose.
In their latest update, health authorities in Papua province reported 33,826 confirmed cases of the virus to date, as well as 794 known deaths. In West Papua province, there were 18,027 confirmed cases and 278 deaths.
A Papuan man receives a dose of the Sinovac Covid-19 coronavirus vaccine conducted by Indonesian navy medical team at Sorong seaport, in Sorong, West Papua, July 18, 2021.
Photo: IRIANTI / AFP
Earlier this week, the Papua provincial health spokesman Silvanus Sumule spoke to media outside a hospital in downtown Jayapura, explaining that hospital capacity had passed 100 percent, while they re short on oxygen tanks for Covid patients.
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife
JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BosNewsLife)– The West Papua Council of Churches urges the United Nations to help end a “humanitarian tragedy” in Indonesia’s Papua region where it says Indonesia’s military kills Christian leaders.
Thousands have been displaced due to the violence, which increased since last year, according to rights activists. Among those targeted was Pastor Yeremia Zanambani of the Protestant Evangelical Church, who was killed in the Intan Jaya regency area on September 19, investigators said.
A report from the Indonesian National Commission on Human Rights said that Pastor Zanambani was tortured before being shot by Indonesia’s army.
Christian faith in West Papua.
Photo: Johnny Blades / RNZ Pacific
This comes amid more violence in the highlands of Papua province, with two school teachers shot dead last week in Puncak district.
The West Papua Liberation Army claimed responsibility for at least one of the killings, saying the teacher was an Indonesian spy.
Indonesian military and police have evacuated a number of residents as they pursue the Liberation Army s guerilla fighters and supporters.
Thousands of villagers in this region have been displaced by violence between Indonesian security forces and the rebel group since it escalated two years ago.
Earlier this year, researchers said the vast majority of internally displaced people in West Papua originated from Nduga Regency where the armed conflict intensified two years ago.