By GABRIEL FITO
AT least half of the medical supplies earmarked for the flood-devastated Yapsie people of Telefomin in West Sepik finally reached them yesterday.
Sandaun provincial health advisor Desek Drorit said some medical supplies and an outboard motor engine were airlifted on a charted aircraft to the area yesterday morning by a team of technical officers who went to the area for a separate assignment.
He said all other relief supplies including the remaining boxes of medical supplies were still waiting to be airlifted to the affected villages as the provincial administration has yet to secure funding for the entire operation.
It was reported last week that the provincial administration did not have the money to purchase basic relief items including rations and was still negotiating with the Government and the National Disaster and Emergency Service for funding assistance.
The provincial administration has estimated that it would cost over K66,000 to purchase relief items and charter an aircraft to despatch them to Yapsie.
The disaster struck the villages early this month and displaced more than 2,000 people, destroyed 242 houses and washed away 872 food gardens.
Mr Drorit said it is very sad that the affected people are hungry and infested with diseases because it has taken almost three weeks now to secure funds to provide relief assistance to these people.
He said while health workers are treating more than 60 people affected by diahorea, an outbreak of whooping cough has been reported in the area.
Drorit said according to report he received yesterday morning, 20 cases have already been reported in one of the village along the river and health authorities believe there may be more in other villages which they have yet to find out and report.