THE story first broke after a news broadcast by Wamena National Radio (RRI Wamena) in early December. The Kusumat Foundation, a local non-governmental organization, reported that 55 people had died and another 112 were sick as a result of famine, which has allegedly hit several districts in the Papuan regency of Yakuhimo in recent months.

The news quickly spread from the regional capital, Jaya Wijaya, after several major media sources in Jakarta r