Displaced settlers get relief supplies from residents

By GABRIEL LAHOC
RESIDENTS in the 1-Mile area in Lae, covering Boundary Road, Kapiak Street and Sialum compound last Saturday delivered food and clothing to the hundreds of displaced Highlands settlers at the Igam care centre.
Several bales of second-hand clothing, garden produce such as vegetables and groceries were transported in four vehicles under police escort to the displaced settlers.
Over the past two weeks community leaders Joe Kale, Geral Makusi, Kau Bal, Johnson Kauba, James Kola, Leo Kataro, Andrew Gaudi, Peter Awi and Mathew Pok mobilised their communities to contribute and help the traumatised settlers.
Their presence and audience with the affected settlers was helped by the Lae settlements peace and good order committee and Lae police, which provided a unit to escort them to Igam.
Kale, speaking as a representative of the 1-Mile communities, said everyone had a heart to give despite their individual and family problems as they were moved by the plight of the displaced settlers, most of whom live along the Backroad, Buma­yong and Tent City areas.
Kale praised his community members and asked concerned citizens to continue such help.
“God will bless the cheerful givers and I encourage the giving attitude to be part of our lives,” he said.
Awi Kaupa, representing the affected people, thanked the help from the 1-Mile communities for the assistance.
Kaupa made a direct appeal to Governor Luther Wenge and Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea head bishop Giegere Wenge to personally visit them at the care centre.