By SHEILA LASIBORI
SECURITY forces in flood-devastated Oro have started moving out of the province although the National Parliament extended the State of Emergency (SoE) until April.
The security forces – defence force, police and Correctional Service – have been “facing out” in their operations.
SoE controller Col Vagi Oala said the NCD-based Correctional Service (CS) contingent may be the last to leave the province.
“The CS will follow because they came in last in terms of fatigue,” Col Oala said.
A 26-member NCD-based police composite squad returned to Port Moresby yesterday.
Col Oala said the departure of some members of the security forces from Popondetta did not mean that those remaining would all pack up and leave at once.
“That is winding down. It is not like a sudden thing. The idea is to slowly face out,” he said adding it would take a while before the next team departs.
Some members of the PNG Defence Force (PNGDF) departed Popondetta about a month ago reportedly to attend courses among other reasons but this signalled the start of the “face out”.
The 26-men police team was 30 initially, but the other four had earlier travelled to NCD.
Deputy controller (police) and incumbent Oro provincial police commander Chief Supt Micah Anaiwe said the manpower had streamed down.
“The police assisted in the delivery system on the ground. They also assisted local police on the general policing duties,” he said.
The police contingents, apart from the local police, still on the ground are members of Southern Command Mobile Squad group one (MS01) and two (MS02).
Sn Sgt Joe Keriapa, who was in charge of the composite squad said the members, while they were in Popondetta provided security to relief supplies and were also based at sub districts.
“It is (operations) winding down so we had to come back,” Sgt Keriapa said.
In the last sitting of the National Parliament, it voted 84-1 for the extension of the SoE – by another two months – from Feb 10 to April.
The floods affected more than 145,000 people; claimed 103 lives; 104 people reportedly were still missing and presumed dead; with3,350 houses and 36 bridges were washed away.
Destruction to infrastructure preventing access to Popondetta town affected an estimated 20,000 people.