Committee sought ways to assist victims

ON Feb 26, around 3 am last year, a monster earthquake measuring 7.5 magnitude on therichter scale struck Southern Highlands, Hela, Enga, Gulf and Western.
The epicentre of the earthquake was in Huya village in the Mt Bosavi LLG some kilometres away from Kutubu LLG.
That day went down on the history books of Papua New Guinea as one of the most devastating and very damaging natural phenomenon that the country has ever experienced, apart from the famous El Nino drought that hit the country in 1997.
In Kutubu LLG, there were 27 deaths, more than 8,000 injured and displaced from their homes, and over 30,000 were affected.
There were huge destructions to properties worth millions of kina including burial sites, hunting grounds, fishing zones, food gardens, sago paddocks and drinking water sources.
It was a day that changed the lives of the people in a way that can never be explained.
After shocks continue for at least three to five months after the earthquake adding more physiological effect and traumatised the victims.
The Kutubu Disaster Relief/Response Committee (KDRC) with the help and support of Kutubu local level government and the Kutubu (Pimaga) District Services, Southern Highlands Provincial Disaster Command and partners including OSL, Exxon Mobil, MRDC and NGOs have helped the people to recover from the earthquake in Kutubu.
They have assisted in the restoration of the Kutubu people over the last.
The committee has been struggling to bring to the attention of the responsible authorities and citizens the need for proper intervention from the Government and stakeholders.
This has prompted the KDRC to seek partnership in trying to assist its people through alternative avenues in the ongoing struggle of its people to recover from the devastation caused two years ago.
KDRC is hosting a corporate fundraising dinner on Dec 21 at the Dynasty Restaurant, Vision City Mega Mall.
The Committee, therefore, invites all stakeholders and interested parties to support this cause by purchasing a ticket or table or make a pledge towards the restoration of livelihoods in Kutubu.
Contact Joel Masahimu on 71567020/730281113

Mike Haro,
KDRC Volunteer