MAF PNG airlifts relief teams into cyclone-hit Bougainville

Papua New Guinea’s Autonomous Region of Bougainville has begun receiving urgent aerial support as Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) steps in to assist communities affected by Tropical Cyclone Maila. The response follows a request from the Autonomous Bougainville Government’s Disaster Department for immediate deployment of relief services.

MAF PNG airlifts relief teams into cyclone-hit Bougainville/Photo by MAF PNG

MAF launched its first operation to Nissan Island, carrying an assessment team along with critical supplies such as food and medical items. Among those on board were District Coordinator Sylvia Renetsi, Community Government Manager Marceline Butu and Health Extension Officer Chris Vagelo, accompanied by other officials tasked with evaluating conditions on the ground.

Plans are already in place for additional flights to deliver more supplies, with the initial assessment team expected to return early this week. Further operations are scheduled to follow without delay as authorities continue to coordinate relief distribution.

Although the cyclone has weakened, conditions remain difficult across western Bougainville, where rising sea levels have disrupted access to key areas including Arawa, Siwai and Buin. Flooding, landslips and damaged roads have further cut off communities.

Sea travel has also become increasingly dangerous, forcing authorities to rely heavily on air transport. An aircraft deployed from Goroka arrived over the weekend and has since been conducting aerial surveys while ferrying officials, response teams and supplies between Aropa, Buin and Nissan.

Fuel supplies are also being positioned in Nissan to ensure continued operations, particularly for isolated atoll communities where both road and sea access remain unreliable.

MAF Bougainville programme leader John Woodberry acknowledged the rapid coordination effort, saying, “We are glad to be making use of MAF’s global disaster response capabilities to support communities in crisis here in Bougainville. We’re grateful to our colleagues in Mount Hagen and Goroka for their swift response, which involved assigning a pilot and an aircraft to survey the damage and transport the right people to the places in need of assistance.”