Disaster office to make assessment

By LUTHER SCAT LAMANG
THE West New Britain provincial disaster office will soon commence a thorough assessment of areas in the province faced with starvation following heavy rains over the past weeks.
This followed recent media reports that food gardens in the Bali/Vitu wards were destroyed by the rains.
Acting director of the provincial disaster office Peter Morlin confirmed receiving reports of possible starvation in the province but said the disaster office would only act after a full assessment was made to determine if reports were serious.
Mr Morlin made these remarks following prior cases where disaster-like situations in the province were exaggerated by people alleged to be seeking free handouts from the provincial government.
He said after a full situation report was compiled and the facts were established, the disaster office and the provincial government would intervene with necessary strategies to help the affected people.
He said the assessment would start this week with a team to go into the areas. Reports would be compiled and submitted to the disaster committee and the provincial government.
Mr Morlin also appealed to the people in the province to take heed of the various awareness programmes that were being carried out in the province by the disaster office to help minimize a disaster situation.
He said people were deliberately doing the opposite with a view to seeking free handouts from the provincial government.