Island needs assistance

 THE East Sepik provincial administration is yet to send an assessment team to the disaster struck Biem Island, Wewak, a community leader says.
It is exactly a month, since a huge storm blew over the island, located north east of Wewak.
Community leader Caspar Jagur said the provincial and district administration had yet to send an assessment team to the island to compile a report for relief assistance.
Food crops such as bananas, papayas, cassava, sweet potatoes and breadfruit were destroyed in the storm.
“Many houses suffered from the winds and need major repairs. Two homes will have to be completely rebuilt,” Jagur said.
The Catholic Church building was wrecked by the strong winds.
Ward member Rodney Kador said: “By God’s grace no human life was lost. We are requesting relief assistance from the provincial disaster office, Wewak district administration and Wewak Island LLG in recovering from these acute losses.”
Jagur said Biem was a volcanic island and the inability of the government to react swiftly to disasters clearly indicated that they were unfit.