6000 in five villages get Oil Search relief boost

AN Oil Search disaster response team distributed relief supplies to about 6000 people in five earthquake-affected villages in Southern Highlands yesterday.
Food, water and shelters arrived in Pimaga on Sunday afternoon, followed by a full day of aid distribution yesterday to villages in Homa, Paua, Baguale and Yalanda.
Many affected by last week’s devastating earthquake have had their homes and gardens destroyed and water source contaminated.
Communities were relieved to receive emergency supplies which are normally difficult to access given the remote locations of the villages and damage to roads.
Said Oil Search managing director Peter Botten: “Our aim is to ensure people have access to basic emergency supplies.
“We have received advice from international emergency agencies in order to ensure these supplies meet their needs.”
A coordination and distribution centre of aid supplies has been set up at Oil Search’s base in Moro.
The head of the Oil Search aid coordination and distribution team, Robbert De Weijer, said they worked hard to set up processes to get supplies flown in by Australian and New Zealand C-130s aircraft.
Additional medical supplies are expected in Moro today on an Australian C-130 flight and those will be distributed to rural health facilities in Hela and Southern Highlands.
The team will travel to more villages in Southern Highlands and Hela during the week as the rush continues to reach as many people as possible.