Eviction leaves settlers vulnerable: Benabo

By PHOEBE GWANGILO
THE demolition of more than 150 houses at Morata in Port Moresby last Monday has given way to social and health issues, according to a community-based human rights advocacy organisation.
“Mothers and infants have been sleeping without a shelter, water and power have been cut and there are no more economy activities,”  the director of Urban and Rural Development Foundation (URDF) Janet Benabo told The National yesterday.
She predicted that as a result, there going to be an increase in criminal activities in Morata.
According to URDF, 154 houses and three churches were demolished and more than 2,000 people displaced to make way for a road through the settlement area.
“We do not oppose the development, but there must be liaison between the government and the people to achieve a win-win situation for the betterment of the government and the people,” Benabo said.
She described the eviction as a deprivation of people’s right to shelter and being free of hunger and poverty.
She said on the day the houses were pulled down no pictures could be taken as phones were confiscated by armed policemen and people stood helplessly watching their homes being destroyed.
She said the 2,000-plus people who had lived there for more than 15 years were vulnerable to sickness and crime.
She appealed to supporting agencies and relevant authorities to intervene and help to relocate the people and provide canvas sheets, mosquito nets and food to them.
“I am concerned about the health of mothers and babies especially. Many have been sleeping without any shelter and mosquito nets.”