Numbers puzzle
p. 15 · Read in the full issue
Accurate figures are almost im possible to obtain from the border region but at least one report from Port Moresby puts the number of Melanesians who have so far fled into PNG ahead of Indonesian Army sweeps as high as 4500. Of these about 2600 are said to have crossed into Western Pro vince since Easter.
The Indonesian government has so far offered to give about $25,000 to help PNG feed the refugees. Mr Namaliu said there were now 759 refugees at Vani mo, 600 at Mamamura village and 640 at the Kamberatoro Catholic mission in West Sepik province. About 100 more are said to be at Green River.
Uncomfirmed reports say 1900 crossed into Komopkin near Ningerum and 760 at Benlim ,near where the Alice river flows into the Fly river.