Villagers face starvation in the wake of hailstorm
By ELIAS LARI
KOIBUGA villagers in the Mul Baiyer district of the Western Highlands province are facing starvation if help does not come soon.
This follows the devastation of their food crops and fish ponds by a hailstorm which struck the area early this month.
About 1,000 people are affected.
The villagers told The National last Thursday that the appropriate authorities in the province should visit and assess their situation with a view to providing assistance.
Spokesperson, Mr Chris Wak told The National that sweet potatoes, a stable for the people, were infested with pests and whole plots of kaukau and potatoe vines have rotted away.
He also claimed that they cannot afford store goods to survive while making new gardens.
He said that it was the first time for the villagers to experience such a life threatening problem.
“Food stuff like sweet potatoes, vegetables, sugarcane, bananas and other foods crops were dying gradually as a result of the hail storm two weeks ago.
He said the villagers were now facing imminent starvation and needed assistance quickly from the provincial disaster office to tide them over while they make new gardens.
He said that they also needed some new seedlings and planting materials to replace the old crops that were destroyed or were now rotting away.
Mr Wak said potato farmers along with other cash crops growers have been hard hit by the loss of income generation.
He called on their local MP and Minister for Internal Security Sani Rambi and the Western Highlands provincial government to move quickly and help them.
He said the villagers have installed a working committee to seek assistance from the authorities concerned.
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