Malnutrition is worsening a measles outbreak on the Indonesian half of Papua, where doctors and health facilities are scarce.  Reports indicate more than 100 children have died.

"We have received reports from villagers that the outbreak is also happening in Oksibil district and our staff have confirmed that, but we still need to check how many people have died," said Papua military spokesman Muhammad Aidi.  "Measles is not dangerous; it's a mild disease.  But because those children are malnourished, they can't cope in that condition," he added. 

Social Affairs Minister Idrus Marham added, "We have sent aid.  Now we are making sure that it is actually distributed to those remote villages and not just stocked in a warehouse."

But a major problem is that there are no roads in these areas.  Oksibil is remote and mountainous, with some villages separated by a day's walk through the rainforest - reports on the ground indicate 27 toddlers died there.  Another 69 died in Asmat, an equally remote, swampy region that is accessed from Papua's capital Jayapura by a three-legged journey that starts with a plane ride, transfers to a helicopter, and finally requires a boat ride.