Floods left about 900 villagers hungry during Christmas

BOBONG settlers in Huon Gulf’s Wampar were left to starve during the festive holidays after the Erap River burst its banks and flooded their village.
The murky flood waters inundated foods and cash crop gardens, poultry and piggery houses, two church buildings and several Bobong elementary and primary school classrooms.
The church buildings flooded belongs to Four Square and Church of Christ.
However, police said the festive celebrations were quiet unlike last year.
Councillor Anton Nawayo said the Dec 27 to 31 floods affected food gardens, cocoa trees and drinking water sources, leaving people with little or nothing to survive on during the festive holiday.
Nawayo said the continuous thunderstorms and rain upstream burst Erap Rivers banks and a container was laced alongside the edge of the riverine to try and ease the overflow of water.
“Instead, the flood waters washed away the container and continued to flood the village,” he said.
“It would take about two to three months to recover from disaster affecting 226 houses and 930 villagers.
“We will remove the muds in the two churches and the classrooms after the muds dry up.
He said a report was filed with the Morobe Disaster Office to assess the situation and provide help.
The Zifasing police station and aid post also similarly flooded after the Rumu River also burst its banks during Christmas.
Meanwhile, the festive celebration in Wampar was quiet unlike last year but there were only minor issues.