K10mil for quake relief

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By REBECCA KUKU
PRIME Minister James Marape has announced a K10 million funding assistance in response to the 7.6 magnitude earthquake that struck Morobe earlier this week.
Marape said funding would be parked with the National Disaster Office under the Ministry of Defence and would be used for disaster relief following Sunday’s 7.6 magnitude earthquake.
“The government stands ready to assist as soon as possible, and that is why we have launched the National Command Centre Response at Morauta Haus in Port Moresby and a hotline number (1800200) since Sunday when the earthquake first struck, for people to call in and report injuries, deaths and damage to property,” he said.
“The Papua New Guinea Defence Force, the National Disaster Office and the National Command Centre Response will work together to assist and respond, but we need full reports.”
Marape said all provincial disaster offices in provinces affected by the earthquake needed to start compiling a full report so that the Government could respond and assist where necessary.
The prime minister said for students at the University of Goroka who were affected after their main dormitory building was damaged by the quake, the Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology Don Polye would look into providing alternative accommodation for them.
The earthquake struck on Sunday morning with its epicenter in Markham district, Morobe which triggered landslides and caused widespread damage to buildings in Morobe and neighbouring provinces such as Madang, Eastern Highlands and Gulf.