MORE than 10,000 people living in Mukumamb area of South Waghi district, Western Highlands province, are cut off from the rest of the province after their only footbridge went under the Waghi River.
This not only affected the people but also the three big coffee plantations and small block holders on the other side of the Waghi River.
The footbridge was washed away last Monday night after the Waghi River flooded.
One of the three coffee plantations owners, Bala Poiya, said last week other small coffee growers on the other side of the Waghi River including two plantations owners namely Rotep Wak and Douglas Dowa were all affected.
Mr Poiya said he owned 110ha of coffee but every coffee season, cherries go to waste because of transport problems across the Waghi River.
He said they had been facing transportation problems since the Bailey Bridge was washed away in 1994.
Mr Poiya said that their request for a new bridge to their former MPs had fallen on deaf ears even though some former MPs told them that the bridge was on their priority list.
He said more than 10,000 people from the Nenga, Moge, Kopi, Jika and Rurka tribes living on the other side were also affected.
He said that they risk their lives crossing the Waghi River to travel into town.

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