Australia helps PNG plan for disaster relief

A major training exercise took place in Papua New Guinea this week to strengthen planning and delivery of disaster relief and humanitarian assistance in times of crisis.

‘Exercise Long Reach’, hosted jointly by the PNG Defence Force (PNGDF) and the Australian Defence Force (ADF), concluded in Port Moresby today.

Exercise Long Reach saw members of the PNG Defence Force work alongside their counterparts from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to develop contingency plans as a proactive tool for use when disaster strikes.  International mentors from Japan, New Zealand and the United States were joined by the International Committee of the Red Cross and UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) as welcome additional participants in the Exercise.

Representatives from PNG’s National Disaster Centre, National Maritime Safety Authority and the Department of Education, Department of Works and the Department of Health and civil society, including PNG Red Cross, World Vision, and from the churches also joined the Exercise as important local participants, to demonstrate how multiple agencies could cooperate closely and effectively in a coordinated disaster response effort.

The participants presented the outcomes of their planning activities today after an intense week analysing different disaster scenarios including earthquakes and tsunamis with PNG placed astride the ‘Ring of Fire’ and vulnerable to severe weather events.

Lead facilitator from the Australian Army, Major Paul Bogue said he was pleased with the outcomes of the Exercise.

“It has been very impressive to see the groups come together and produce very solid and robust plans that the government could use in response to future emergencies.

“The combined capability of this group will be of great benefit to the people of Papua New Guinea in times of disaster.”

Exercise Long Reach is conducted in PNG every two years. It aims to train military, government and non-government organisations in contingency planning procedures for conducting disaster relief and humanitarian assistance missions. The exercise is also designed to promote closer ties between the participating organisations.