Jayapura, Jubi – As many as 20 residents of Kiwirok District who fled to Oksibil, the capital of Bintang Mountains Regency, Mountainous Papua Province, returned to their hometowns on Tuesday, November 29, 2022. The Cartenz Peace Task Force sent health workers to treat the displaced people.
This was conveyed by the Commander of the Cartenz Peace Task Force, Adj. Comr. Budi Suryono, in Jayapura City on Saturday, December 3. According to him, the medics who were flown from Oksibil to Kiwirok were led by the Head of the Oksibil Health Center.
“The medical team will provide health services, especially for Kiwirok residents. They returned to their hometowns on foot from Oksibil to Kiwirok,” Budi said, explaining the condition of the displaced people,
Fourteen months ago, around 500 residents of Kiwirok District fled to Oksibil. At that time, they fled to avoid the armed conflict between the security forces and the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) in Kiwirok. As the armed conflict subsided, the displaced residents began to return to their hometowns.
According to Budi, in the near future, his party will assist the return of eight Kiwirok village officials. “We are doing it gradually and in stages according to the capacity of the aircraft. After that, we will rearrange the schedule to send the rest of the Kiwirok community who are still in refugee camps,” he said.
Deputy Head of the Cartenz Peace Task Force Adj. Sr. Comr. Arif Irawan said that in sending displaced people home, his party prioritized a number of people who serve important roles in helping displaced people such as health workers, village officials, and several community leaders. (*)
