Disaster centre to verify aids to drought areas

 THE National Disaster Centre will cross-check to confirm if funding assistance has been given to provinces affected by the recent drought, director Martin Mose said.

Mose’s comments followed calls by Bougainville disaster coordinator Franklyn Lacey for the National Disaster Centre to release K7 million for relief efforts based on initial assessment reportsmade last year when the El Nino set in.

Mose said he would need to confirm with his divisional heads on the number of provinces that had been assisted and those yet to be helped.

“I believe Bougainville is heading the path that Milne Bay is now taking (food shortage), therefore, we need to get confirmation of funding assistance before we can start implementing,” Mose said.

“Most of the funding has been centred on Morobe, mainland New Guinea and Western which are severely affected.

Lacey told The National that Bougainville had gone from bad to worse following the start of the wet season in November, with food gardens under water.

Mose said while they were receiving requests from various provinces for funding assistance,  they would only provide the required level of assistance based on the severity of their respective situations.

However, Mose said all funding requests were subject to government decision.