Flooding devastates Ramu

FLOODING in Ramu has affected all three districts (Usino/Bundi, Middle Ramu and Bogia) of Madang, leaving people displaced and struggling to survive, a report from the provincial disaster office says.
Last week’s downpour caused the disaster, forcing people to move to higher grounds when waters exceeded normal high-tide levels.
Locals from Madang said all their food gardens were covered by flood waters and soil deposits.
Obtaining food and clean water is the major concern for the people now.
Numerous villages along the Ramu River from Usino-Bundi to Middle Ramu and parts of Bogia where the flooding reached and the extent of the damage caused was overwhelming, the report said.
The report said that it was now the responsibility of the Madang disaster coordination office to assess the damage to give the specific damages and how much that would cost.
The Bosmun area in Bogia has reached extreme levels where dead animals, both wild and domesticated, were seen floating along with debris, five houses were washed away, the road from Cow Banis to the junction of the connection to Milkarop and Mikareu was underwater as well.
There is no access to Bogia Station, and the concern now is food shortages and no medicines.
Meanwhile, several landslips and flooded parts of the Banu-Brahman Road have cut off access at Brahman-Bundi in the Bundi local level government.
Bundi sub-district administrator John Kar said continuous rain has affected everyone in the area.
The road is used by school teachers, both primary and high school teachers, health workers, students and parents and farmers as well as villagers.
Kari called on the Bundi LLG president to use royalty funds given to the LLG to assist places affected.