PNG earthquake 2018

K1.3m for earthquake relief donated

A mock cheque was presented to Prime Minister Peter O’Neill at the Manasupe Haus in Port Moresby yesterday.

The donation was made under the China-PNG Friendship Association, who had raised over K1.2 million in cash, K60,000 in kind and K100,000 in medicine in just two days.

Deputy Chief of Mission Yao Ming said this is a trying time for Papua New Guinea and the Chinese community in this country are saddened by the loss of lives and damages caused by the massive earthquake.

Disaster committee formed in Mt Hagen

The working group involves members of the national and provincial disaster office, Papua New Guinea Defence Force, Australian Defence Force, Ipili Pogera Investment (IPI), PNG Red Cross, MAF and other non-government organisations.

Chaired by Papua New Guinea Defence Force Joint Task Force Commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Immanuel Todick, a workable solution had been reached in which IPI transport in Mt Hagen has offered their transport yard to be use as a storage facility.

SHP villagers moved into care centres: Local

This is according to information to this newsroom by local police officer, Jacob Kumin.

Kumin says a resettlement is highly likely.

Police officer Kumin said about 6 thousand people have been affected in these 3 villages, with the first form of help reaching them yesterday.

Only accessible through air at the moment, Oil Search Limited representatives travelled into these villages and handed out blankets, bedsheets, tarpaulins and bottled water and biscuits.

22 villagers airlifted by PNGDF

Two PNGDF Bell 202 helicopters flew in from Tari Airport, Hela Province, to Huma Pawa village and landed at Huma Primary School.

In a statement, the PNGDF said: “Hundreds of people gathered at Huma Primary School as the helicopters landed. They all had fled their homes to seek refuge and shelter at Huma Primary School.”

Major Ezron Dekeaetavara said their relief supplies will be coming shortly. In the meantime, PNGDF is only helping in providing immediate medical evacuation emergencies.

UN mobilises support for PNG earthquake

The team will assist the PNG National Disaster Centre in assessments, response coordination, logistics and information management in the worst affected areas, especially in Hela and Southern Highlands provinces.

The UN has initially mobilised USD1.4 million (K4.6 million) to support relief efforts, having already dispatched immediate relief supplies to the earthquake affected areas such as tarpaulins, water containers, emergency medical items including medical kits, vaccines and malnutrition treatment supplies.

Govt sets up disaster trust account

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill announced this yesterday in Port Moresby.

PM O’Neill said all donations from Papua New Guineans must be put through this Trust account.

He added that all government efforts had been directed to the account as well.

The account number is 70129 85888.

“All donations must go through this particular account because we want it to be coordinated and audited properly,” stated O’Neill.

“We want the money to reach the communities that really deserved it.

“We don’t want to waste any resources.”

Stop vandalizing: PM

O’Neill made these remarks after getting reports that Digicel towers were being vandalized.

“I’m appealing to our people that this is a time for us to work together for the immediate needs of our people,” appealed the PM.

“These kind of actions do not help anyone.

“Let us try and restore communication as it is vital and would save lives. We may need to send help to send food supply and medical supply to these areas.”  

O’Neill also added that the Government had also dealt with some landowner issues along some of the road slips.

PNGDF recovers 6 bodies under landslide

In a statement, the PNGDF said six of the bodies have been identified, confirmed and buried.

This was confirmed after the two PNGDF Bell 202 helicopters were deployed on a medivac mission to Homa, Pawa villages in the Mansis LLG at Kutubu, to airlift 22 government workers and sick villagers that were affected by the earthquake over the weekend.

The four remains undug beside the mountains were identified as Henri Kiliape, Hengene Kila, Simon Andali and Sali Wawi.

1 week later: Help yet to reach remote villages

Hunger and dehydration continue to rise while deaths remain unaccounted for.

Local police officer Jacob Kumin has confirmed that brief tremors resumed this morning after ceasing for almost 3 days.

He further revealed there has not been any government presence in the impacted villages.

He said Oil Search is on ground and started doing village to village assessment and at the same time, handing out bottled water and some food items.

Churches called to support affected areas

Bishop Tege says people are seeking spiritual guidance at this time of pain and uncertainty and urged for all churches, regardless of denomination, to stand together and reach out to the people.

The United Church in PNG is establishing church-led response centres in Tari, Hela Province, and Mendi, Southern Highlands Province, to coordinate initial needs assessments.

The assistance of the six other member churches under the Church Partnership Program will collaboratively share church actions and to plan for response and recovery efforts.