Oil Search gives an overview of its earthquake relief effort

By MALUM NALU in TARI
Hela Governor Philip Undialu and provincial administrator William Bando were on Saturday given a overview of the work Oil Search Ltd has done in earthquake relief over the past three weeks.
Hela, Southern Highlands, Western and Gulf have benefitted from the work.
Undialu, Bando and Komo-Margarima MP Manasseh Makiba met Oil Search staff in Moro while on their way to Tari.
Yesterday for the first time in three weeks, Oil Search staff had a rest at the request of villagers who wanted to hold church services.
Community affairs manager Paul Sapake, relief coordinator Stuart Harrison, medical manager Dave Widden, community affairs supervisor Stewart Boyd and community affairs officer Alfred Yanari took the three Hela leaders through Oil Search’s relief work since the Feb 26 earthquake.
ExxonMobil humanitarian aid manager Aaron Grogan also spoke on behalf of his employer.
“We’ve covered most of the devastated villages,” Sapake said.
“It’s been a tireless effort.
“We’ve been there, done two runs to most of the villages affected.
“We’ve dropped tarps, we’ve dropped water and medical supplies.
“In some cases medical teams are going in.
“Our plan is to put together a start-up kit for communities right across so they can start to rebuild their lives.
“The kit will include gardening tools, building materials, water tanks and whatnot.
“This is the next phase of the programme after we’ve given them food rations that can last them for some time.
“We’re working closely with the Southern Highlands and Hela relief coordination committees on a daily basis to update them on what we are doing, as well as what they’re doing on the other side.
“Our team in Port Moresby is working closely with the national coordination committee and controller, so that information flow is shared among the group.”
Harrison said Oil Search had since March 1 clocked up 220 flying hours, moved 1011 people, done 132 slings which had resulted in 120 tonnes of food and aid moved.
“As of March 14, we visited over 78 villages, people covered is over 100,000,” he said.
“That’s quite a phenomenal response.
“It’s been a phenomenal effort from our team who have worked very, very hard.
“Our partners have also worked very, very hard.
“We’ve all tried to keep each other informed.”
Grogan said ExxonMobil was working in coordination with everyone else.
Undialu and Bando thanked Oil Search for the work it had done to help the people of Hela.