Jakarta, July 28 -- The Indonesian Army is ready to help the Health Ministry establish hospitals in conflict-prone areas, including Papua, head of the army's information service, Brigadier General Wahyu Yudhayana, has said.

He made the statement following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Health on cooperation in hospital construction.

"If it has become a policy, and in this collaboration with the Ministry of Health, we are ready to provide any assistance needed," Yudhayana said on Monday.

He said that his party is ready to deploy engineering troops and other heavy equipment to locations designated by the Ministry of Health.

Troops have also been prepared to protect worker...