Highlands no funds to deal with disasters

 THE provincial disaster offices in Highlands provinces do not receive funding from the provincial government to prepare for natural disasters, a workshop has been told.

The one-day workshop on humanitarian partnership was organised by World Vision in Mendi last Wednesday.

It was revealed that relief supplies did not reach affected people on time and many suffered because of funding problems.World Vision emergency response manager Bonie Belonid said the effect of El-Nino continued to be felt.

The provincial government and the non-governmental ogranisation will continue to help families with water, sanitation, child protection activities, healthcare and economic activities.

“We must be quick to respond to disasters and focus on helping to rebuild the lives of disaster-affected families and communities over the long term. 

“We need to help them in their transition from relief mode to recovery and rebuilding mode,” he said.

Southern Highlands provincial natural disaster and national functions adviser Martin Pat said the province was badly affected by the drought and frost because there was no funding and coordination was very poor. 

“The disaster happened last year but some people received their relief supplies last Christmas, some at the beginning of this year,” he said.

“We are not prepared and our response to the disaster was very poor. The provincial government and the district development authority must set aside funds in the future.”