Flight returns, brings huge relief

By ZACHERY PER
THE resumption of flights into the remote Karamui area of Chimbu by North Coast Aviation (NCA) has brought relief to the people.
“After 13 weeks of not having air services into Karamui, we feel much relieved today when we see NCA aircraft here taking loads into Karamui and returning to Goroka with coffee bags,” senior public servant Vitus Genai said yesterday.
He said since the state of emergency and lockdown, flights into the area had stopped for 13 weeks.
Genai said the people in Karamui had no other means of sending and receiving goods then by air transport and he would walk three days through the jungle to Kiari in southern Chimbu before making it to Goroka in neighbouring Eastern Highlands.
NCA started flying in supplies and basic items into Karamui yesterday and brought back coffee bags to Goroka.
Genai thanked North Coast pilot Capt Emil Possiri for their service.
Karamui ward two councillor Noah Kul Toya said he hired five trucks and repatriated 180 people from Karamui in Goroka to Lufa, Eastern Highlands where they walked on a jungle track for two days to reach Karamui.
He said he done similar thing where 160 Karamui people in Kundiawa, Chimbu, were driven to Kilau in South Chimbu and walked for two days to reach Karamui.