Heavy rains cause havoc in Western

By MAJELEEN YANEI
THE continuous wet weather over the last three months has affected schools, health facilities, shops and food gardens in Western’s Middle Fly, forcing schools and a health centre to close operations after flooding.
Obo health centre officer in charge Junlai Nawalin said that shops, the Kaviananga and Kasa Primary and Elementary Schools and the Obo health centre have been closed for three weeks as the buildings are deep in water.
He said only patients with critical conditions were attended to in flooded building.
He added that people were forcing shops to serve them standing deep in water as food gardens have been washed away.
Rain is still continuing and the water level continues to rise.
“Water tanks, pit toilets, and cemeteries affected.
“This also increases water-bone diseases like malaria, diarrhoea and cough. “Some families have vacated their homes and moved to higher grounds with about 80 per cent of the 8000 plus people affected,’’ he said.
Nawalin said that the existing water wells had been covered so people had no access clean water.
“Those who have canoes move around to find food and water while many others are handicapped,” he said.
Last week, an elderly man from Komovai was drowned when he was trying to climb down from his high post house. This is the worse flood yet in terms of damages caused, Nawalin said.
“By comparison, the flood that hit the area in 2014 was manageable.
“Responsible authorities need to intervene and provide relief supplies as all services have closed for indefinite period until flood subsides. Obo, Kaviananga, Kasa Komovai Aiambak, Bosset and villages in Lake Murray are affected,” he said.