Police monitoring relief efforts

By JACKLYN SARIAS
POLICE have set up two command centres in the Highlands where officers can operate from to collect reports and coordinate earthquake relief operations.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Kaiglo Ambane, the Highlands Western End commander, said the two centres were at the Curtain Brothers camp in Tari and at the Mendi police training facility.
“The worst-hit areas in Southern Highlands include Mendi-Munhiu, Karins, Lai Valley, the Kandep-Mendi border, Pangia and Nipa-Kutubu,” he said.
Ambane said in Hela, areas most affected were Komo, parts of Margarima and Tari, Koroba and Mt Bosavi.
He said from reports received at the command centres, 45 people had died in Southern Highlands and 80 in Hela.
“There were also three major landslips at the sections of Mendi-Karinj Road, Poroma and Kutubu Roads. Access to Kutubu was cleared last Thursday.”
Ambane said Mendi-Kandep Road was still closed and work was in progress to have it reopened.
“Debris of landslips from Hagen to Mendi and from Mendi to Tari have been cleared and a few cracks along the Highlands have been secured to one lane from Wara Agule to Mendi.”
More than 15,000 people were displaced in Southern Highlands and most were now living in the seven care centres – five in Kutubu, one at Poroma and one in the Mendi-Munhiu district.
“In Hela, total reported displaced is about 20,000 of which 16,000 are from Komo. Care centres are being set up around the air fields in Hela.”
Ambane also said schools in the province remained closed.
“So far there are no problems with security in Southern Highlands,” he said.