By Ancilla Ilave
The Australian Government, through the Australian High Commission, is working with the United Nations, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other partners to ensure humanitarian and disaster relief supplies are pre-positioned and readily available when emergencies occur.
The warehouse in Lae is part of Australia’s efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness and humanitarian response in Papua New Guinea.
Australian Consul-General Brenton Kanowski said Australia works with other donor partners, including the United States, through United Nations implementing agencies and partners to ensure relief supplies are strategically stored and ready for distribution to areas most in need.
He said the supplies include water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) kits, dignity kits, tarpaulins and other essential materials to support communities affected by natural disasters.
Mr Kanowski said Lae was strategically positioned to support humanitarian and disaster relief operations across the country.
He said Lae serves as a distribution centre for the Highlands region and is also well connected to the Mamose Coast, allowing relief supplies to be transported quickly through shipping services to other parts of the country.
He said the Lae warehouse currently holds about 1,000 WASH kits and other essential relief materials.
The quantity of supplies would be adjusted based on consultations with United Nations partners and projected humanitarian needs.
Mr Kanowski said the 1,000 kits had recently been restocked after previous supplies were distributed in response to Tropical Cyclone Iowah in Milne Bay Province.
Meanwhile, with El Niño conditions currently affecting Papua New Guinea, IOM has set a target of reaching 4,000 households, particularly displaced communities across the country.
Australia will continue working with IOM and its partners to provide humanitarian relief supplies to support affected communities.
