Floods affect WHP villagers

By GIBSON TORASO
UPNG journalism student
MORE than 2000 people in the Jiwaka region of Western Highlands were affected by floods over the weekend.
Continuous heavy rain experienced in the Wara Karl area outside of Banz town caused the River Ane to burst its banks.
Floodwaters destroyed food gardens belonging to locals and plantation workers.
John Opunts, a community leader in the area, said most of their food crops had been destroyed and covered by debris and sediment.
He said about 2000 people who had gardens along the river banks had been affected.
“Food gardens are our only source where we get food to feed us daily and now our gardens are destroyed by the flood. I don’t know where we and going to get food from to feed our family,” Opunts said.
He called on the relevant authorities in the province to look into their problem and help them.
“I am appealing for assistance from disaster authorities on behalf of the flood victims as most families will go hungry because we depend entirely on garden foods for our survival,” Opunts said.