Papua New Guinea's flood toll passes 150
Pastor Dale Morgan
*Papua New Guinea's flood toll passes 150*
By Lloyd Jones in Port Moresby
November 21, 2007 12:50pm
Article from: AAP
THE death toll from devastating floods in Papua New Guinea's Oro
Province has passed 150 and could rise further as reports come in from
remote areas, disaster officials say.
They also warned that needy and displaced villagers could die of water
borne diseases and starvation if relief supplies and medical assistance
did not reach them in time.
The PNG government has declared a state of emergency in the province
where floods washed away hundreds of houses along with roads, bridges
and food gardens following days of heavy rain last week.
Australian and other international aid agencies are standing ready to
assist.
Officials put the latest death toll at 153 with dozens still reported
missing based on radioed reports from coastal and mountain villages
across the province.
The previous figure was just over 70.
Most of the deaths were of people washed away in surging flood waters,
with bodies later recovered downstream in swollen rivers and streams.
Churches, business houses and other non-government groups are organising
their own relief operations amidst calls for the provincial and central
government to speed up delivery of relief supplies.
The closure of the province's main airport and main port, cut off from
the provincial capital Popondetta due to ruined bridges, has hampered
relief work.
Bad weather in recent days prevented some helicopter flights from Port
Moresby to Popondetta over the Owen Stanley ranges, crossed by the famed
wartime Kokoda Track where the trekking season is over with the onset of
the wet.
The Kokoda Track Foundation has launched an appeal and urged Australians
to draw on the spirit of Kokoda to provide emergency medical supplies
and assist villagers at the Oro end of the track.
Oro Governor Suckling Tamanabae said he was disappointed at the time it
had taken the national government to respond to the disaster and he
appealed to international donors to assist.
Crowds have gathered daily outside the provincial headquarters in
Popondetta, expressing their anger to officials over delays in sending
out supplies to villages.
Four choppers were today ferrying police and other officials to remote
villages to assist community leaders in relief efforts and recovery of
bodies.
Emergency supplies of rice have been airlifted to some of the
worst-affected areas.
PNG's cabinet has approved the use of the PNG Defence Force for relief
operations and the release of 50 million kina ($20 million) for
immediate disaster relief.
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the Australian
Government stood ready to assist and was seeking a clearer indication of
the extent of the disaster from the PNG government.