A major earthquake relief and donation drive was done on Sunday at the PNGDF Murray Barracks in Port Moresby.
The Hela Inaka or (“My” Hela) Relief was set up following the devastating earthquake on the 26th of February that shook the entire Hela and Southern Highlands provinces, including parts of the Highlands Region.
This is a group comprising of concerned Hela women, men, youth and children residing in Port Moresby with a great desire to help their people rebuild and recover from this catastrophe.
Group coordinator, Gloria Arabagali, said the event organised was to bring together all of Hela Inaka Group to raise funds to support fellow men, women and children in the earthquake stricken province.
“The day has been enormous with a great turnout and overwhelming donations that have come through by city residents in particular,” Arabagali stated.
The main idea behind the donation drive was to give an update of what is actually going in and what is happening in the disaster stricken province at the moment.
“In which are and who is greatly affected and what can we do to help to send them support and help to help them rebuild their lives from what they have already lost.”
One of the main aims behind the drive as well was to commemorate and remember the lives lost during the disaster.
This saw the Port Moresby Hela community come together to unison with a moment of silence and candle lit minute.
Arabagali says immediate donations required to rebuild and sustain their lives include bush knives, spades and axe, cooking utensils, 4- 5 litre containers for fetching and storing water, blankets and warm clothing, water tanks, solar lights and torches, canvas, tents and sleeping bags and food rations.
Other donations apart from the ones listed above are also welcome.