Eastern Highlands disaster office funds dry up

 THE disaster office in Eastern Highlands is handicapped and cannot do anything to help drought-stricken people in the province, an official said.

Provincial disaster coordinator Awepstar Seka said yesterday that there were no funds available in his office to buy relief supplies for people.

“I am sorry to say this but this is the reality on the ground now. I cannot do much but wait,” Seka said. 

He said the on-going administrative impasse between Governor Julie Soso and sidelined provincial administrator Solomon Tato had adversely affected efforts to bring relief help to  people suffering in the province.

Seka said due to the impasse it was difficult to get funding help and coordinate relief efforts with concerned stakeholders.

“Drought reports from the eight districts are piling up in my office but I can’t do much,” Seka said.

“I call on all the MPs, the governor and provincial administration to leave their differences aside and come together to address this issue before our people start to die of starvation.” He said more than 100,000 people from the eight districts were affected.

“People are feeding on cassava and all their water sources have dried up.

“They are fetching water from big polluted rivers.”