Several personnel from the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea (PNG) Border Security Task Force and Keerom police precinct worked with residents of Arso sub-district in Keerom district, Papua, to repair a damaged bridge in Arsotami village.
“Essentially, soldiers are from the people, by the people, and for the people,” deputy commander of the Indonesia-PNG Border Security Task Force's 312/KH Infantry Battalion, Capt. Mansyur H Alam said in a statement issued here on Wednesday.
A joint team from the task force and Keerom police was deployed to the village to repair the bridge which was damaged in recent flooding in several parts of Arso sub-district, Alam said.
Local residents assisted the soldiers and policemen with the repairs as the bridge is vital for the mobility of people and goods near the Indonesia-PNG land border, he informed.
"Helping our people living near the Indonesia-PNG land border is part of our priorities," Alam remarked.
Floods struck parts of Keerom district on February 3, 2021, submerging residential and office areas following incessant heavy rains since February 2, which caused the Tami River to breach its banks.
Floodwaters inundated the Arso Swakarsa-Arso II area, Arso City, and the villages of Asyaman, Yanamaa, Walukubun, Workwana, and Pitewi.
The East Arso Police Sector office was also inundated, deputy chief of the Keerom Resort Police, Commissioner Martha Tolau, informed when contacted from Jayapura.
Police deployed personnel to help residents whose settlements were affected by flooding.
"Several police officers have been deployed to help the flood-stricken residents," she confirmed.
ANTARA has reported on how the Indonesia-PNG Border Security Task Force has been helping locals in Papua province through community services, such as voluntary teaching, serving mobile library, and street cleanup programs.
The task force recently initiated a street cleanup program in Mosso village in Muara Tami subdistrict, Jayapura city. Along with Mosso villagers, several members of the task force removed dirt and debris from the village's streets.
The soldiers who participated in the community service belonged to the Army Strategic Reserves Command's (Kostrad's) Raider 413 Mechanic Infantry Battalion, according to the task force's commander, Major Anggun Wuriyanto.
The residents were enthusiastic to join the street cleanup program, he said.
"We hope the street cleaning activity will be a routine program to keep Mosso village clean and healthy," he added.
He then urged the village's youth to lead efforts to keep their village clean, healthy, and secure. (INE)
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