Air Niugini Celebrates Success of Inaugural Emerging Leaders Program

 In a tragic turn of events, a woman and her daughter lost their lives, and over 1,000 homes were reduced to rubble following a magnitude-6.9 earthquake that struck parts of East Sepik in Papua New Guinea. The disaster has prompted swift action from the government, which has earmarked K500 million for nationwide disaster relief efforts.

Defense Minister Dr. Billy Joseph, overseeing natural disaster offices, responded promptly to the crisis. He directed Acting Commander of Defense, Phillip Polewara, to utilize all available defense force assets, including vehicles, to aid affected communities. Additionally, the government has alerted bilateral partners, signaling its intent to seek further assistance once initial reports from provincial disaster offices are received.

Flooding in East Sepik[photo by Salvador Kemaken/fb]

The earthquake's devastation became tragically apparent when a house collapsed, claiming the lives of a mother and her daughter in Timboli, Angoram. Prime Minister James Marape wasted no time in announcing the allocation of K500 million from various sources, including the 2024 Budget, Connect PNG project, District Services Improvement Programme (DSIP), Provincial Services Improvement Programme (PSIP), disaster funds, and support from development partners, to provide immediate relief to affected populations.

Marape emphasized the urgency of the situation, highlighting the need for a coordinated effort across government agencies through a national disaster steering committee. This committee, in conjunction with the National Disaster Office and provincial disaster offices, will oversee special interventions aimed at swiftly delivering aid and facilitating the restoration of affected areas.

Expressing concern for regions beyond East Sepik, Marape noted ongoing assessments of the earthquake's impact in parts of Madang provinces and Gumine in Chimbu. He urged districts and provinces directly affected by the disaster to expedite access to their allocated DSIP and PSIP funds to facilitate recovery efforts.

East Sepik Governor Allan Bird, while visiting Angriman village in Angoram to address recent flooding, confirmed that teams were actively compiling reports from all affected districts. Once these reports are complete, the provincial administrator, Samson Torovi, will declare an emergency to mobilize resources effectively.

In light of the ongoing crisis, Defense Minister Joseph issued a warning to the public, advising against sea travel in small boats, emphasizing the need for caution and calm amidst the chaos.

As Papua New Guinea grapples with the aftermath of this devastating earthquake, the government's swift response and allocation of relief funds provide a glimmer of hope for affected communities as they embark on the path to recovery.

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Air Niugini Celebrates Success of Inaugural Emerging Leaders Program