People scavenge for food

By THOMAS DILU
The recent landslide in Karizokra village in upper Bundi, Usino-Bundi, Madang, has left villagers scavenging for food in what is left of their gardens.
Ambai Febian, a widow from Karizokra, said she now has to look elsewhere to feed her children after their only source of food was destroyed by landslide.
She said around 12 midnight on Wednesday, March 20, there was a heavy downpour which took the whole night, resulting in a massive landslide that destroyed her only garden.
“It was like a bulldozer had cleared a field when we saw our garden the next day,” Ambai said.
She has nowhere to look for food on her own. Her husband passed away about 10 years ago.
Bundi’s Karizokra ward five councilor Mailo Biakri said villagers have scavenged the mud and debris for food after their gardens and roads were destroyed by the landslide.
Biakri said the roads were cut off by landslides. Schools, health services and small to medium enterprises were also affected.
He appealed for help from Madang provincial disaster office, relevant government departments and interested business houses.
He said 22 wards in both lower and upper Bundi areas were affected by the disaster.
Biakri said: “The affected people are sustaining on fern plants from the bush and sweet potatoes from old gardens which were not affected by the disaster while waiting for help from provincial and responsible authorities.” He added that the priority now is to clear the roads because these are Bundi’s only access to Madang and nearest towns in Chimbu, Eastern Highlands and Jiwaka.
Ward 15 councillor Vitus Kiyanuga said several landslides occurred during the heavy rains in areas between Imbrum and Binaru, and six others between Binaru and Bundi station.