El Niño claims lives in Indonesia

22 September 1997

El Niño claims lives in Indonesia

EL NIÑO has been responsible for at least 154 deaths in Indonesia because of a drought that has wrecked harvests and fed forests fires. The remote village of Jayawijaya is desperate for food aid and it is feared more will die there.

Fires have destroyed more than 80,000ha (197,677 acres) of four forests. People are suffering from malnourishment on the island of Java because of rice-harvest failures.

Papua New Guinea inhabitants could soon be facing starvation. Frosts have damaged crops.

• The Times 22/09/97 page 15
  
• The Daily Telegraph 22/09/97 page 10
  
• Financial Times 22/09/97 page 3