Jakarta, Sept. 4 -- Indonesia's Air Force deployed a Hercules C-130J transport aircraft to deliver 12.5 tons of rice to residents of Yahukimo, Highland Papua, on Friday amid a drought that has disrupted aid distribution.

An official Air Force statement received in Jakarta said the drought had reduced river levels in Papua, hampering the distribution of government aid through waterways.

"Air transport support is an alternative distribution option because the Timika-Dekai waterway has not operated optimally due to declining river flows," the statement said.

After receiving the report, Air Chief Marshal Mohamad Tonny Harjono ordered his personnel to deploy a Hercules aircraft to transport rice provided by the Yahukimo district government....