District offices in Morobe, Madang act to provide relief

By GLORIA BAUAI
DISTRICT development authorities (DDAs) across Morobe and Madang have shifted into gear to assist those affected and displaced by Sunday’s 7.6 magnitude earthquake.
Most districts contacted by The National said reports received were unconfirmed but meetings were well underway to provide disaster relief assistance.
Madang administrator Frank Lau said they had been communicating with Governor Ramsey Pariwa, the district MPs, the provincial disaster office and the PNG Defence Force to establish the extent of quake damage in the province.
“Our meetings are ad hoc at this time but with every information we receive, we must assess for due diligence with the assistance of our provincial disaster coordinator and PNGDF, compile and submit to the national disaster office for proper assistance,” he said.
Rai Coast MP Kessy Sawang, whose district suffered most casualties, said her DDA board would meet today in Madang to organise assistance for badly affected villages.
For Morobe, neither the provincial disaster office nor Governor Luther Wenge’s office could be reached for comment.
But as per reports from Huon-Gulf’s Salamaua council manager Cliff Wembivong, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Religion and local MP Jason Peter had met with the DDA to set aside funding for disaster relief.
Wembivong said food assistance would be given initially while a second assessment was carried out to determine other asisstance.
Wau-Waria MP Marsh Narewec said his district had three unconfirmed deaths following a landslide triggered by the earthquake.