By DAVID TERRY
The word "oro" in the Binandere language, commonly spoken in Oro province means welcome, and the Oro province people are generally respectful, friendly and welcoming.
Visitors to the province' villages will feel the genuineness of their hosts warmth and generosity.
Conch shells, kundu drums, headdresses woven from colorful bird feathers and the distinct tapa cloth artistically dyed with traditional ink symbolizes the pride and identity of the Oro people.
The gesture of friendship is practiced across the length and breath of Oro province from Tufi, Wanigela to Afore towards Kokoda across Binandere to the coast of Ambasi and the shorelines of Ope, Katuna, Bakubari, Kausada, Gona, Cape Killerton, Sananada, Buna to Oro Bay-the people share the same customs and traditions-one, oriented by peace harmony and good will.
They chant Oro Oro Oro to welcome visitors into their midst.
The provincial flag carries the Birdwing butterfly, a reflection of strength courage, determination and bravery, the latter replicating the courageous deeds of the famous Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels who helped the Australian Military against the invading Japanese forces during World War 2.
In a sentimental pseudonym, following recent floods in the province, Oro Governor Suckling Tamanabae said "it has been proven that only two creatures in the world can survive a nuclear holocaust-the cockroach and the butterfly."
The butterfly goes through a mystical and extraordinary process to become a creature, one especially blessed and anointed by God.
It must come out of its cocoon, multiply and flutter its wings in very colorful multitudes".
"That's the way my people will recover from their calamities bought on by the flash floods," a teary Governor Tamanabae said last week after assessing the damage.
"God has his own ways, for everything happens for a purpose, we shall recuperate and rise up, ever hardened to progress and prosper," Mr Tamanabae said.
The province is blessed with cash crops like oil palm, cocoa and coffee.
Thousands of Australians, Japanese and American people have sentimental connections to the province because their loved ones fought and many died on the land during World War 2.
Each year thousands of tourists come to Oro province to walk the famous Kokoda Trail and visit war sites.
The floods caused by heavy rains caused widespread death and destruction to villages and gardens leaving thousands without food and shelter.
The lives of thousands are at stake if they don't receive food, water and medicine immediately.
Governor Tamanabae made an emotional plea to the Government to respond immediately to the situation. Although several tones of rice were delivered to some areas, thousands more are still in need of food and shelter.
Seven days after the disaster, the PNG Government a State of Emergency and approved K260 million for relief aid and the reconstruction of some roads and bridges in the province.
However, while these funds are still going through the process of being transferred into the operating account, there are delays in getting food and water to the displaced and desperate.
There's fears that political and bureaucratic red tape could further delay the relief processes.
The thought of people dying in hopeless and helpless situation is traumatising for those affected and their relatives outside of the province who are worried about their welfare.
Governor Tamanabae said the PNG Government and its relief agencies and security forces do not have the capacity to deal with a disaster of this magnitude.
The people are scavenging for edible crops in the mud and water to stay alive and scores of people are walking for days and swimming across rivers to reach Popondetta to find food and water.
A disaster of such magnitude requires a massive relief operation, it requires heavy duty helicopters, huge manpower and boats that can carry cargo and rescue people trapped in tree tops, houses and higher grounds.
At the time of writing the death toll had increased to 160 after reports that 11 had reportedly died of starvation in the Binandere area.
Governor Suckling Tamanabae who traveled by chopper into the area said, the people took him to the burial site and showed him the 11 graves.
The death toll could be higher given the fact that most areas are still flooded preventing government workers from going into affected areas to assess the situation.
Health authorities fear the outbreak of water borne diseases such as cholera, dysentery, diarrhea and malaria.
Continuous rainfalls formed several tributaries of ferocious river torrents, which gushed down the mountains of Kokoda, Afore and Binandere leaving a trail of death and destruction throughout the 4622 square kilometers of land inhabited by 180,000 people of Oro province.
On Friday November 17, provincial officials, using the health radio network confirmed that 52 people had perished and 50 were missing.
Those missing are now presumed dead and with the 11 deaths in Binandere the official death toll is over 160 people.
According to the provincial works engineer Andres Kendaura about 95 percent of the bridges and road infrastructure worth an estimated K2 billion, were destroyed.
The bridges linking Oro Bay, the gateway for cargo ships and passenger vessels and the Girua airport had also collapsed.
The villages along the coastline from Tufi, Wanigela, Oro Bay, Eroro, Buna Salamanda, Cape Killerton, Gona, Bakubari, Bareji, Kurereda, Hombariri, Kausada, Hariko, Barisari, Omborada, Batari, Katuna, Ope and Ambbasi were under water.
Food crops, livestock and entire villages were swept away.
The flooded River Bangoho washed away up to 150 homes and destroyed the Popondetta Town Water Supply dam forcing the provincial water board to shut off the town's water supply.
Governor Tamanabae's nephew Brian Tamanabae a reserve policeman in Popondetta escaped death when the Double Cross bridge linking Higaturu Oil Palm factory and Kokoda with Popondetta town collapsed.
The bridge had partially collapsed but was still passable and Brian drove his bus across it to avoid being stranded on the other side. On the bridge were three young men.
When he reached the other side the bridge collapsed. Brian turned and saw three bodies flung like dominoes into the air and straight into the raging torrents beneath the bridge.
The people on the river bank rescued one of the boys, the fate of the other boys is not known.
A man working in his garden climbed a tree to escape the flood but watched in horror as the waters carried his wife away. She is still missing. Three coffins were also unearthed and carried down the same river.
In Bareji about 130 people have sought refuge on a logging company's pontoon while hundreds of people are floating on rafts and canoes.
The rivers are contaminated by dead animals and human beings and people are using leaves and tarpaulins to catch rain water to drink.
Two bodies, a headless torso and the corpse of a young boy were found in Eroro village.
It is believed they may have floated down from the hinterlands of Pongani and Managalas.
Those involved in the rescue and relief operations have a mammoth challenge on their hands.
The floods supersede the 1951 Mount Lamington Volcanic eruption considering the fact that the entire province has been affected. Thousands may succumb to sicknesses and starvation over the next few weeks if they don't get help.
Food supplies in the shops are dwindle as provincial authorities race against time to rebuild the Girua bridge and culverts connecting Girua airport and the Oro Bay sea port with Popondetta.
Alternatively all food and fuel supplies will have to come through Gona mission station.
Despite the huge commitment made by the PNG Government, the floods in Oro shows us one thing.
The country lacks the capacity to respond immediately to a disaster of such a magnitude.






 

 

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