By ALISON ANIS
EMERGENCY relief assistance and medical supplies are expected to reach most people in Oro province whose lives have been devastated by the flood caused by Cyclone Guba today, National Disaster Committee (NDC) director Martin Mose said yesterday.
Mr Mose said NDC met yesterday with representatives from international donor agencies, several NGOs and church organisations and they had responded by establishing an inter-agency emergency team to help with relief assistance in the province.
Mr Mose reported that the team included AusAID, US Embassy, Japan International Cooperation Agency, World Vision, Oxfam International, Caritas PNG and churches.
“We were not able to send food supplies and other relief assistance to the province on Monday and yesterday due bad weather and closure of the Girua airport.”
The Kokoda Track Foundation has also called on Australians to draw on the spirit of Kokoda to provide emergency medical supplies and to help the people on the northern end of the Kokoda Track.
The foundation will today announce the establishment of The Kokoda Cyclone Appeal.
Meanwhile, Milne Bay provincial disaster officer Eric Balaria clarified that two persons had been confirmed dead and not five as reported yesterday.
However, the other three, a couple and their child who went missing, have been rescued and are safe.