The islands and coastal areas of Madang have been hit hard by the sea, with the help of the strong winds experienced lately in the province.
Matugar village on the outskirts of Madang town has an estimate of only 2 meters of soil left, before the sealed main road connecting the North coast, Bogia and Ramu people to Madang town, gets cut off.
“Just this year we’ve witnessed the sea eroding much of the soil on our shoreline, leaving onto this much left before the road collapses,” the Matugar village chief James Willimait said.
Despite witnessing what the sea had done, the people refused to move elsewhere.
They said Matugar is their home, and the government must step in and help build sea walls to stop the destruction’s from the open sea.
The National Climate Change and Development Authority Acting Managing Director, Joe Pokana in his recent visit to establish the Madang Climate Change Committee, visited the village and said his office has received reports from the people through the Madang Provincial Disaster Office.
Pokana said, the newly established Provincial Climate Change Committee is also a step forward into securing funds to build seawalls for the people of Matugar.
Matugar is home to more than 2000 men, women and children. The sea washed away a bigger portion of the village’s shoreline just last month and if it continues in that same pace, the road and eventually the village will be gone soon.
