Multiple Constraints in Papua

KOMPAS/FABIO MARIA LOPES COSTA

Traffic density in Jayapura City, Papua on Wednesday (20/5/2020). Residents are still active as usual amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Papua is one of six provinces with high numbers of Covid-19 cases. Handling the disease in the region is more complicated because of its vast area and security issues.

Papua is the largest and easternmost province in Indonesia, spanning 315,091.62 square kilometers. Some areas of Papua are partly inaccessible because it has many mountains. Some districts are located in the highlands such as the Jayawijaya Mountains and Bintang Mountains, as well as near Puncak Jaya.

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Unsurprisingly, Papua is facing multiple obstacles in the midst of the Covid-19 outbreak. The first obstacle in Covid-19 mitigation is the lack of health workers, medicines and health facilities.

Papua has extremely limited health facilities. The issue has become more complicated because many health workers among their limited number have contracted the disease. As many as 34 health workers in Papua had tested positive for Covid-19 as of Wednesday (27/5/2020). Continued transmission among the health workers would weaken the Covid-19 mitigation efforts in the region.

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SATGAS PENGENDALIAN, PENCEGAHAN DAN PENANGANAN VIRUS KORONA PROVINSI PAPUA

Info graphic positive trend case of Covid-19 in Papua Province on Thursday (28/5/2020).

The supply and distribution of medicine is also a problem that cannot be resolved easily. In contrast to other provinces, where distribution uses road transportation, most medicines in Papua must be transported by plane. With the shortage of flights, distributing medicine will take time.

The second obstacle concerns security risks. Health workers in Papua are not only at risk of contracting Covid-19, but are also at risk of becoming victims of violence, especially in areas prone to security disturbances. On Friday (22/5/2020), health workers Henico Somau and Alemanek Bagau were allegedly attacked by armed criminal groups in Wandai district, Paniai regency. Henico was killed, while Alemanek suffered serious injury.

Health workers in Papua are not only at risk of contracting Covid-19, but are also at risk of becoming victims of violence.

These security issues must be resolved immediately in Papua in consideration of the safety of health workers, who are vital to managing the Covid-19 outbreak. Security threats could discourage health workers from fulfilling their duty in treating Covid-19 patients.

Based on December 2019 data from the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) in Papua, human rights violations in the province increased dramatically in 2019 compared to 2018. Komnas HAM’s case numbers rose from 68 in 2018 to 154 in 2019.

The government should increase security in Papua as well as West Papua, which has similar regional characteristics. Optimal safety must be maintained, especially during the current situation. Ensuring security and safety is a more urgent need amidst the many humanitarian missions that have emerged in response to Covid-19 outbreak.