K150,000 for Manam evacuation relief supplies

THE National Disaster Centre has provided close to K150,000 for evacuation and relief supplies for people affected by the Manam volcano in Madang.
Centre director Martin Mose told The National that they were able to assist people on Manam Island because funding for both evacuation and relief was pre-positioned.
“We had used funds from our operational funding to preposition funds to carry out an evacuation (K50,000) and to provide relief supplies (K100,000) should there be an eruption,” Mose said.
“So when the Manam volcano erupted on Friday, we had funds and evacuation plans already in place for them.”
Mose said that the status in Manam remained at level one alert but he urged people to take precautions as their lives were important.
“People should start voluntary evacuations, just to be on the safe side.
“But Manam is okay, as we have funded them with K50,000 for dinghy hire and fuel to transport the 4,000 population on the island to the mainland during an evacuation.
“They also can have access to relief, whatever relief is needed can be provided through the relief funding.”