Death toll from Menyamya dry spell rising

THE number of dead people and animals starving from hunger is increasing as the prolonged dry period continue leaving people and animals without food and water.
Two-year-old Enny Elijah died last Friday from having no food and water for four days at Lagai in outback Menyamya district, Morobe.
Elijah’s death had increased the dead toll to nine.
The number of pigs reportedly dead had also increased from 11 to 19.
Villagers Ishmael Guiye, John Joseph and Matrus Apsalom from Atlingi in Lagai also found five dead cuscuses.
Lagai councillor James Milpa said the five cuscuses were of different species which included the black fur cuscus and an echidna.
“The eight-month heat is too much, and people can no longer stand it,” Milpa said.
He said that a heat wave last Friday “was so strong that it dazed my wife and five children”.
He said two other women and four children also suffered.
He said people were suffering from dizziness and vomiting.
The matter had been reported to the Morobe disaster office.