by Bethanie Harriman – EM TV News, Lae
The Morobe Provincial Government has limited funding put aside for disaster risk management in the province.
Morobe Governor, Kelly Naru, said funding cuts from the government will starve the provincial governments’ efforts to handle the drought.
“We will need support from other stakeholders especially the National Government,’ said Naru.
Morobe is a big province; the drought is taking its toll on the people, the brief rains in December came and food gardens have been destroyed by insects and pests.
Places in the Kabwum district need more assistance.
Relief supplies are slow to reach areas like Komba and Yus LLG.
Morobean communities were not adequately educated about food security practices. People would still have food to eat if they were.
In Timini, an area prone to flood, have only learnt food security measures and emergency drills last year.
They have been victims of floods for many years, until the International Office for Migration helped them create a plan to deal with the flooding risk.
Provincial authorities have failed to help Morobean Villages create disaster risk management plans to help the people become self-aware.
Now that droughts and floods are occurring people are seeking relief from a Morobe Provincial government, that’s facing big funding cuts.
Last year, the Provincial government allocated K1million, in this year’s budget it has allocated K800,000 for various disaster related efforts.
