By Staycey Yalo – EMTV News, Port Moresby
Relief activities to the Evangelical Church of Papua New Guinea in the Hela Province has come to stop after last week’s tribal fight in the heart of Tari town.
The church which had lost majority of its properties in the 7.5 magnitude earthquake in February, has been recovering slowly with many of its staff sleeping outside the crumbled properties to assist the surrounding remote communities with little help from outside.
At least 17 buildings belonging to the ECPNG Church were damaged in Hela Province. The buildings include the Print Press, Guesthouse, the main office and most of the church residences.
In Malanda at Komo, a school, aid post, maternity buildings and staff housing all belonging to the church had crumbled to the ground with only one building standing. The damage to properties extends to other parts of the province in Dauli, Walumali and Tani as well.
The churches recent effort to assist the affected communities in the area and rebuild the facilities had come to a stop as tribal fight in the Tari town last week has resulted in the disruption of relief supplies.
ECPNG President, Hengebe Himugu after surveying the damages said, he does not know what to do and that to see so much damage over a large area is disheartening.
The church also thanks those who have contributed in the past weeks and has encouraged those who still want to give to contribute through their Pioneers PNG Relief Fund.
