Emergency plans on impact

PAPUA New Guinea, the United Nations and international and local partners have begun discussions on contingency and emergency plans to cater for the likely spill-over effects of tensions in West Papua.
The Government, through the National Disaster Centre (NDC) and other relevant departments and agencies, held talks with UN agencies, particularly the UN resident representative, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, diplomatic partners, non-government organisations and church groups at a two-day workshop last week.
According to the National Disaster Centre director Col Carl Wrakonei, two draft plans have been devised during the workshop which would be further discussed and finalised for implementation, if and when the need arose.
The two target provinces where the plans would be implemented are Western and West Sepik where PNG shares a land border with the restive Indonesian province of West Papua.
Wrakonei, when opening the Refugee Emergency Response and Contingency Planning workshop, noted the importance of the workshop, which, he said, was; “to plan and prepare for the possibility of arrivals from across the Indonesian border”.
“We are all familiar with the unfortunate and increasing tensions across the border in Indonesia with our West Papua brothers and sisters,” he said.
“While we may have our personal and political views about the situation, we do need to prepare ourselves for the possibility, should the situation worsen, for an influx of people crossing into our country seeking refuge from the conflict.”
Wrakonei said it would be a priority to provide humanitarian assistance to those who flee from the conflict.
In such emergencies, he said, the NDC would provide the national leadership in creating and maintaining measures to reduce risk to communities and to manage the consequence of emergencies in the country. “This is one of those occasions where we seek support,” he said.
With technical guidance from the United Nations High Commissioner for refugees, we will learn about the legal rights and protection needs of refugees as we plan together for the possibility of mass arrivals.”
“While the NDC may manage and co-ordinate response activities, it is all of our – each and every one of us – responsibility to be prepared to respond to emergencies.”