PM: So sad

By Malum Nalu in Mt Hagen
PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill hugged and shook hands with people in some of the areas worst hit by the earthquake — as relief supplies started reaching the communities.
But there was a scare earlier in the day when a 6.7 magnitude aftershock jolted people awake just after midnight in the Highlands provinces.
O’Neill visited Hela and Southern Highlands and saw the devastation caused by the 7.5 magnitude earthquake 10 days ago, including a village near Kekero which a landslide wiped out.
“It’s very sad to see a lot of destruction and lot of displacement of our people,” he said at Kekero village.
“It’s certainly a lot of stress to communities that have been affected by earthquake.
“Slowly the relief supplies are getting in, the injured are being taken to hospital.
“Progress is still being made and we are pleased with the progress so far.”
The 6.7 magnitude aftershock struck Mt Sisa between Porgera and Tari, about 112km south-west of Porgera in Enga towards Tari, at a depth of 110km.
The huge tremor was felt in the adjacent provinces of Western Highlands and Western.
Authorities were unable to say whether it caused further damage.
But people from Mt Sisa, where 11 people were killed by landslides last week, gathered at the airstrip in fear of their lives.
O’Neill was accompanied by Oil Search Limited managing director Peter Botten, Australian High Commissioner Bruce Davis, Kumul Petroleum managing director Wapu Sonk, State of Emergency controller Dr William Hamblin and Mineral Resources Development Company managing director Augustine Mano.
They visited the earthquake relief coordination centre at Oil Search’s Moro Camp where emergency supplies arriving on Australian and New Zealand military aircraft were distributed.
The supplies have been provided by donors including Australia, New Zealand, Oil Search, Trukai Rice, Population Services International, Unicef and UNFPA.
Supplies purchased by the PNG government are also being distributed from Moro and the Defence Force base in Mt Hagen.
He thanked the companies, agencies and governments which were lending a hand.
“I want to express our gratitude to the private sector, especially Oil Search, the Australian government, the New Zealand government, the Israeli government, the Chinese government, and others who have rallied behind Papua New Guinea to bring relief supplies to the communities,” he said.
“It’s working very well and team work is very important.
“Where there is a shortfall somewhere, someone else is stepping in.
“And that’s a very pleasing effort by the community and the private sector – working together.’’
The delegation travelled to Kekero village to see a community that was badly affected by the earthquake.