MAF continues to deliver supplies to quake victims

MISSION Aviation Fellowship (MAF) continues to deliver relief supplies to earthquake-stricken communities in Hela, Southern Highlands and Western.
MAF media officer Mandy Glass said many of the relief supplies they delivered had been provided by business groups and communities from Western Highlands and Jiwaka.
Glass said that disaster response efforts were being coordinated in partnership with the Australian Defence Force, PNG Disaster Response and other airline operators, missions and non-governmental organisations.
“As an example of some of the local community support, the Mt Hagen-based Tininga business group donated 50 bales of 20kg rice, 100 cartons of bottled drinking water and 10 tarpaulins,” she said.
“Other Mt Hagen business owners contributed five ‘relief kits’ which were delivered to Walagu, two to Bosavi and two to Muluma.”
Caravan pilots Luke Newell and Mathias Glass took a full Caravan load of donated supplies out to Bosavi and Mogulu.
The MAF team continues to make sure that the donated supplies are being delivered to the communities most impacted.
A few houses were destroyed or shaken up during a 6.7 aftershock last week.
Newell gave an account of one of his journey to deliver relief supplies.
“I saw at least two people who were bruised; a man talking to me had a gash on his right cheek,” he said.
“I believe Tony was his name.
“He said that during the quake he had wanted to run outside but couldn‘t because the floor was shaking heavily and the steps might have fallen down.
“He fell over while staggering out and must have fallen onto a nail or something sharp that tore a gash in his cheek.
“Tony’s cut looked quite deep so I got the first aid pack out of the plane and gave him an antiseptic cream hoping to at least keep the wound clean.
“There were reports of other injuries, but we have yet to see these people coming to seek help.
“People from many surrounding communities have run to where the ground is flatter, and that is where the airstrip is located.
“It takes them around 30 minutes’ walking, coming for their own safety and also hoping to receive some relief goods such as tarpaulins, water or rice.”
Newell sees their needs: “I feel sorry for them.
“I just want to help.
“I see not only the houses that have collapsed and injuries for which many need assistance, but also the gardens that are breaking up and people’s food sources for tomorrow becoming uncertain.”
Glass said the SDA Aviation was also involved in delivering relief supplies.
It delivered more than 1800kg of rice, bottled water, canned fish, tarpaulins and other supplies to Dodomona.
SDA Aviation chief pilot Jeff Downs, said two community houses at Dodomona that had been housing more than 300 displaced people, collapsed during last Wednesday’s aftershock.
Nobody was injured.
SDA also delivered 1000kg of relief supplies at Fuma, another 840kg to Huya and 200kg to Walagu.
Between SDA and MAF a total of 8400kg of relief supplies was delivered to six airstrips.