District to get supplies

 By ZACHERY PER

PEOPLE from parts of Unggai-Bena and Henganofi districts affected by the flooding of Bena River last month will benefit from relief supplies worth K1 million.

Unggai-Bena MP and Minister for Lands and Physical Planning Benny Allan yesterday thanked Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and the Government for making available the money through the Office of the Chief Secretary.

He said people needed quick responses from the Government.

“What has transpired is a revelation of trust and confidence the people have in the current Government,” Allan said.

He said the people of Dunantina area in Henganofi and upper Bena suffered as  the Magitu, Rintebe and Megabo bridges were washed away.

He said the height of the flood saw houses, livestock, coffee and food gardens washed away.

“School children are now crossing the river using tubes,” he said. 

“It is a very risky exercise, the elders told me that the flood that occurred on Feb 13 was the worst experienced in the area.”

He said it was a double-blow for the people and he sympathised for them but a quick response from both Henganofi and Unggai-Bena district officers resulted in quick assessment reports.

“We will start to distribute relief supplies from this weekend to the people affected.”

Allan thanked the Eastern Highlands provincial administrator Solomon Tato and his deputy John Gimisive and officers from the district who visited the devastated zone in Megabo, Magitu, Rintebe and Dunantina areas.