Disaster in Jiwaka

Story and pictures by TONY PALME
ON Saturday, March 24,between 2 and 3am,the Kaunang River in North Waghi district of Jiwaka burst its banks and washed off the bridge that connected Jimi and North Waghi.
Since Kaunang River flows in to the Mombol River, the tide formed by the bridge burst out in a flash,sending a massive tide towards the Mombol River.
In those early hours, everyone was fast asleep. The freak flood made a one-off clean sweep of the entire Kaunang and Mombol Okup villages and caught people by surprise.
Women and children were the most affected and they never knew what enemy attacked and from which direction, while they were still in bed on that fateful morning.Women’s spokes person,
Margaret Jeng said the gigantic flood caught them by surprise and swept their houses, gardens and bridge away.
She said it was a very painful and frightening experience for the people. “Our survival is dependent on the gardens. We are the main suppliers of fresh garden produce at Banz market.“Now that our gardens and bridge are completely washed away, we are suffering so much. We are in a state of a total shock and confusion. I don’t know who will help us to recover,” Jeng added.Paul Goi from Kuiona 1 said the rice bags that they received a month ago, through the assistance of Jiwaka Governor Dr William Tongamp, have run out.
He said they need more relief supplies because all their gardens were completely washed away and they were suffering from hunger. ”The makeshift tents that we erected after the flood are now accommodating 10-15 people each.
“As taxpayers, we the people of Kuiona 1 and2 ask the Government if there’s any relief assistance in place to assist us.
“We are suffering for a month now and call on the Government to help us.“We’ve experienced one of the worst disasters of our lives,” Goi said.
Community leader David Warap appealed to the Government for immediate response.Kuiona 1 councillor Michael Gilma said three people were killed in the flood.
“We have buried the body of a young man and a young woman. But the young male child of the young woman that died perished in the flood. We searched everywhere but could not locate him so we created a cemetery in his memory.
“My house disappeared in the flood. None of my people got anything back. We have nothing remaining. Expensive permanent houses that cost a lot of money, a vehicle, piggery projects, poultry projects, fish projects, a workshop,semi-permanent buildings, toilets,white goods, gardens, just about everything was consumed by the flood,leaving no trace of our village behind.
“Everything just vanished in the blink of an eye. Mombol Okup was a model village built by hardworking village people. Over 500 families are displaced.
“They are now devastated and some have lost weight and become frail within a matter of days because they worry too much.“It is a disaster and we cannot blame any human being. We don’t know how we could rebuild our lives. It would take years and a hell lot of pain and sacrifice for there building process,” Gilma said.The flash flood had caused massive destruction over a stretch of about 20km from Kaunang in the north to the delta of Mombol and Waghi River in the south.People living as far as Dona,15km east of Banz, and Kudjip and Pepik in neighbouring South Waghi district, said they heard the roaring sound made by Mombol River during the flood.
The destructive flood washed away coffee trees, bananas, other cash crops, animals and houses along the 20km stretch that comprises of nine council wards.
Former North Waghi MP Benjamin Mul’s property located along the river had its fencing and garden destroyed as the flood made its way downstream to Banz town and completely wiped out seven trade stores and a timber yard at Banz.
Mul said: “The flood has caused so much destruction for the people of nine council wards and the worst affected is the Kuiona 2ward.
“I call on the Prime Minister and the disaster office to assist them.“I and the PM (Peter O’Neill)went to Wara Mombol there during the election last year and he saw the river. I know he is aware of the destruction that was mentioned in the media.”Mul, who had assisted the flood victims with 200 rice bags on April28, urged other private citizens to assist.
Provincial disaster coordinator John Kupul described the flood as one of the worst to have hit North Waghi district.Kupul and public servants from the district and province formed a disaster relief committee called Wara Mombol Flood Relief Committee to find relief assistance for more than 500 households,about 3000 people, who were severely affected or displaced.The relief committee is chaired by provincial administrator Michael Wandil and compromises of more than 20 other public servants, North Waghi district administrator John Kumie, and Kupul.
They have appealed to business houses and donor agencies in Jiwaka as well as outside sources for relief assistance.Six days after the flood,Governor Dr William Tongamp had assisted with K50,000 which the relief committee used to buy food rations for the affected people.North Waghi MP Dr Fabian Pok has assisted with a cash donation of K22,000 and two live pigs which the relief committee and Pok’s treasury staff presented to the families of the three deceased at Mombol Okup.The International Organisation for Migration has also assisted with health recovery kits and provided disaster preparedness information to the affected communities.The Nazarene Church groups in North Waghi district and the Nazarene Health Ministry have also visited the affected villagers and provided donations in cash and kind and shared the word of God with them and comforted them.Church groups like the Baptist Union PNG, Salvation Army, and international agencies such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Red Cross national society and Care PNG have made their own assessments of the flood affected zones and are yet to respond.Kupul praised Tongamp andPok for their swift response to help their people.He also thanked IOM and Chun Ming Trading at Banz, Kumurang Guesthouse, Waghi Klos for donating 20 bales of clothes,Benjamin Mul for donating 200bags of rice, and others for helping the flood victims.
“We really thank you all for your help in cash and kind in this time of disaster.“This is a very big disaster thataffected the lives over 3,000 people.“The cost of the damage will beover K3 million.“I am hopeful that the Government will look into this situation and help our people.“People have lost their homesand properties and are verydevastated at the moment. Itwill take a long time before theyrecover and rebuild their lives to normalcy.
“They are taking refuge with their neighbours who were not affected,” Kupul added.The disaster relief committee is currently working on a submissionto hand to the National Disaster Centre and the Prime Minister’s
Department.Meanwhile, the Jiwaka community in Port Moresby and the Jiwaka Students Union at the University of Papua New Guinea did their own fundraising activities to assist the Mombol flood victims,they are yet to present what they have raised to the disaster committee.