Oil Search donating K16mil in cash and kind

Oil Search will donate up to K16 million in cash and kind to support disaster relief efforts in Hela and Southern Highlands.
Managing director Peter Botten said it had made its Moro base in Southern Highlands available as a coordination hub for relief efforts.
Oil Search helicopters and personnel have started distribution of initial emergency aid, provided by a range of donors and non-governmental organisations, and food and supplies donated by Oil Search to the hardest hit villages, including Pimaga, where more than 2000 people had lost homes and livelihood are sheltering.
“The damage caused by the recent earthquake is unprecedented,” Botten said:
“Communities are without basic necessities. We are deeply concerned about the welfare of these communities and are working very closely with the PNG Government’s National Disaster Restoration team and respective provincial disaster committees to provide assistance, in close partnership with other donors, including the Australia and New Zealand governments.
“With the important infrastructure in Southern Highlands and Hela so severely impacted by the earthquake, the Moro facilities are an important hub for aid distribution.”
The Australian government began to fly in supplies to Moro through Australian Defence Force Hercules planes loaded with water, shelter, medicine, cooking pots, bedding, blankets and other supplies. New Zealand’s first load of emergency supplies landed today.
Oil Search helicopters have started distribution of this material to areas across Hela and Southern Highlands.
Trukai Industries donated 20 tonnes of rice and Oil Search delivered to Moro over K1 million worth of packets of food based on international nutritional guidelines.
Oil Search is also continuing with separate charters loaded with emergency supplies. These will progressively be distributed to communities in need, over the coming days and weeks.
“We have also responded to calls from the Southern Highlands health authority for medical assistance by transporting a medical team to Pimaga, along with emergency medical supplies,” Botten said.
“Medical supplies, provided by the PNG Government and flown to Moro by the Australia Defence Force, have now been delivered to Tari Hospital to address dwindling stocks Meanwhile Santos will donate US$200,000 (about K639,200) to aid agencies in PNG to help get urgently needed food, water and medical supplies to more than 30,000 people isolated in small villages in Southern Highlands and Hela.