Pruaitch calls govt to assist Western people facing disease and food shortage

OPPOSITION Leader Patrick Pruaitch has called on the Government to assist the people of the remote Nomad local level government in Western facing diseases and lack of food.
He said according to figures from the United National office in PNG, up to 2600 people in Western were displaced by the earthquake.
He questioned why the Ok Tedi Mining Limited based in the province released funds directly to the Government’s consolidated revenue without allocating a portion to the provincial disaster relief efforts. Pruaitch said he was disappointed by the lack of coverage in the media on the plight of the people of Western.
He said attention should be equally goiven to Hela, Southern Highlands and Western.
“The Opposition stands firm in its support for our MPs from Western and the Western governor,” he said. National Emergency controller Dr Bill Hamlin said relief efforts were moving into Western.
“We are moving forward.
“We are moving into Western province,” he said.
Western presented its disaster management plan last week and MPs aired their concerns to the media.
Pruaitch said at least one third of the K50 million donated to Government by Ok Tedi be given to the Western disaster relief office.