An Oil Search Disaster Response Team distributed emergency relief supplies to around 6000 people in five earthquake affected villages in Southern Highlands Province on Monday.
Supplies of food, water and shelter arrived in Pimaga on Sunday afternoon, followed by a full day of aid distribution on Monday to villages in Homa, Paua, Baguale, and Yalanda. Many of those affected by last week’s devastating earthquake had their gardens destroyed, local water source contaminated and homes destroyed. Communities were relieved to receive supplies which are particularly difficult to access given the remote locations of villages and blockages to access roads.
Children from Baguale in mourning about 4 people have been missing since Sunday’s major quakeOur aim is to ensure people have access to basic emergency supplies. We have received advice from international emergency agencies in order to ensure these supplies best meet their needs, said Peter Botten, Managing Director of Oil Search. ‘Our thoughts and sympathies are with communities and we want them to know we are here to help.
A coordination and distribution centre of aid supplies has been set up at Oil Search’s base in Moro. The head of the Oil Search Aid Coordination and Distribution Team, Robbert De Weijer said that they have worked around the clock to set up processes to receive supplies off Australian and New Zealand C-130s air bridges and government sources, package up these supplies and prepare packs for target villages. We now have an efficient system in place that will enable us to reach more villages on a daily basis.’
Additional medical supplies landed in Moro today on the Australian C130 and these will be distributed to rural health facilities in Hela and Southern Highlands over the next few days. The team will travel to more villages in Southern Highlands and Hela over the course of the week.
We are thankful to the Government of PNG and all our partners, including the Australia and New Zealand governments, who have worked with us to ensure aid supplies reach those in need, Mr Botten said.
For further information, please contact; Ruth Waram, PNG Communications manager, Tel: 71906078, Email: ruth.waram@oilsearch.com
Source: Oil Search Limited
