People in the Highlands region especially in Hela, Southern Highlands and Western Provinces are still experiencing the aftershock of the earthquake that happened on Feb 26, 2018.
The Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, told the delegates at the Petroleum and Energy Summit today in Port Moresby that the Government and donor partners are doing all they can to cater for the people during the disaster.
PM O’Neill said the country was about to get favourable revenue income from the PNG LNG Project as the price of oil and gas is at an improvement stages but was denied after the 7.5 magnitude earthquake.
He said the impact of the disaster on the local communities is devastating but thanked the donor partners for their quick response.
“We have seen an ongoing increase of prices of oil and gas but was affected by this massive disaster the country have experienced.”
He further confirmed that about 150 people have died but might be higher as many people are still yet to be located.
O’Neill added that there is also a high risk of medical diseases as people converged into the 26 care centres set up by the Emergency Disaster Centre.
“We are working together with our private sectors and development partners to assist our people and have demonstrated their partnership during this disaster.”
Meantime, the two day Petroleum and Energy Summit will end tomorrow, March 20, 2016.