Rain destroys families’ food gardens

BY JASON GIMA WURI
HEAVY rain last week destroyed food gardens on the banks of  the creeks at  Makana Settlement, near the Gaona Poultry farm outside Port Moresby.
The two  creeks  washed away the gardens that the families were depending on for food and their source of income.
There are five communities living in the 9-Mile area –  Buang, Kerowagi, Chimbu, Morobe and Gaouna – with a population of between 5,000 and 10,000 people.
Borang community leader Martin Apo said people had been living in this settlement for more than 40 years.
“We more or less live a village life with no proper water supply, no proper sanitation, no electricity, no road links and other vital infrastructure that are seen in other settlements.
“We walk great distances on foot from 9-Mile Cemetery bus stop and Rouna Quarry bus stop like what people from rural communities in PNG experience.
“The authorities have turned a blind eye on us.
“We are appealing to the Governor Powes Parkop and our MP Andrew Mald for help,” Apo said.
Another representative from the Kerowagi community, Peter Master, said for many of the settlers, gardening was the only source of  income for their families.
“We use the two creeks that run through the settlement to water the crops and we harvest all year round.
“Selling produce from our gardens has generated income for our families and assisted us,” he said.
Master said the heavy downpour over the past few days had badly affected them.
“The flood destroyed our food crops, our source of income has stopped. Our families are at risk of starvation.
“We are now asking for assistance in cash or kind from business houses, individuals and our governor and MP,” he said.