As of Monday 08th January 2018 the Minister responsible for National Disaster Management has declared the Kadovar Island volcanic eruption as a ‘National Disaster”.
Minister Kevin Isifu, in a statement says that this declaration is for purposes of mobilizing every government agency to respond to the volcanic operation as a disaster and to organize and coordinate emergency operations.
Isifu says that unfortunately Kadovar is also one of the islands in his Wewak Open electorate, hence as the Open Member he has instructed all local government agencies especially the Wewak Islands Local Level Government and the Wewak District Development Authority to mobilise every resource and capacity to attend to the situation with the first priority to save lives and secure lives affected in safe areas and organize immediately initial resettlement site.
“Under my powers as Minister responsible for National Disaster Management I called an emergency meeting with my department and the National Disaster Office and the Department of Defense and the Papua New Guinea Defense Force on ‘disaster emergency operations to be undertaking.
“I was most grateful that the Allan Bird, the Governor of East Sepik, was able to join me in the meeting and we concluded on a joint and collaborative operation.
“Overall Government leadership will be provided at my department and National Disaster Center office however localised operation and action will be carried out by the East Sepik Provincial Disaster Management Office.
The Minister further explained that the Wewak District Development Authority will carry out immediate ground operations in conjunction with the Wewak Islands Local Level Government office.