VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Army personnel and local residents in Papua work together to create a simple water purification device. (ANTARA News Papua/HO-Pendam XVII/Cenderawasih)

Several Indonesian army personnel recently shared and transferred knowledge on building a simple water purification device with residents of Kurima Sub-district, Yahukimo District, Papua Province, to enable them to get easy access to clean water.

With the water purification device, locals residing in the sub-district's mountainous area will no longer encounter difficulties in finding clean water, according to a military officer.

This simple device was made by using materials that the locals could easily find around them, Kurima Sub-district Security Post Second Lieutenant Denis Akbar stated here on Saturday.

"Materials used for this simple water purification device include sand, gravel, and charcoal," Akbar remarked.

Army personnel involved in this community service are part of the task force unit of the Army Strategic Reserves Command's (Kostrad's) Para Raider 432 Infantry Battalion.Speaking in connection with this community service, the Kurima community leader, Elius, 65, expressed gratitude to the army personnel for the transfer of knowledge on making the water purification device.

Local community members often encounter difficulties in finding sources of clean water for their daily consumption, but the water purification device has brought about changes, he pointed out.

"We no longer faced problems in getting clean water, and we can practice leading a healthier and cleaner lifestyle," Elius remarked.

ANTARA noted that Indonesian soldiers in Papua and West Papua are necessitated to multitask, as the government works incessantly to address the issue of regional disparities in development between them and other provinces.To this end, soldiers deployed in these two eastern provinces are mandated to be responsive in seeking solutions to problems and challenges faced by Papuan communities in their daily lives.

The soldiers are required to play the role of problem solvers for the local communities amid their central task to defend the country's territorial integrity and guard the safety of all Indonesians.

Sharing land and sea borders with Papua New Guinea (PNG), Papua and West Papua's geopolitical and geostrategic positions are indubitably important for Indonesia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The development of human resources in Papua and West Papua remains a tricky challenge, as the Human Development Index scores of these provinces remains lower than that of other provinces in Indonesia.Referring to Indonesia's 2019 Human Development Index, Papua and West Papua recorded scores of 64.7 and 60.84 respectively.

The literacy-related community services offered by Indonesian soldiers since several years have contributed notably to the regional and central government's endeavors to enhance the quality of human capital in Papua and West Papua//ANT