Food needed after windstorm destroys homes and gardens

The National National

Food relief assistance is needed by families affected by a violent winds on Mbuke Island on Manus earlier this month, according to a report by the Manus disaster assessment team.
The windstorm destroyed building infrastructures and food sources with no casualties reported, causing extensive damages to homes, classrooms, public buildings and residential properties.
Half of the population was affected.
Many garden food crops like bananas, yams, pawpaw, sugarcane and taro were damaged.
A team of government officials comprising of health, technical service, education, agriculture and livestock, LLG advisory, disaster management and environment and climate change sectors were dispatched to conduct an initial damages and needs assessment.
The team carried out a transect survey up and down village rows, and did a careful assessment of houses, infrastructure buildings, schools, aid post, gardens, and the overall land and sea environment of the island.
The survey revealed:

  • A six-year-old was traumatised by a falling tree while seeking safety and was immediately rushed to the health centre;
  • aid post was fully stocked with basic medical supplies;
  • 64 students affected;
  • of 107 household in the village surveyed, 57 households were affected with 97 people losing their homes and living in a care centre;
  • K1 million was needed to assist with the relief and recovery of the community;
  • main need was food and clean water as well as technical and infrastructure maintenance on houses and classroom reconstruction; and,
  • Government help was needed in terms of building materials, water tanks and temporary shelter and tents with solar lights.