Red Cross helps provide necessities for detainees

 By ELIAS LARI

THE International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has come to the aid of the Mt Hagen police to meet the needs of the  cell detainees by providing blankets, soap and other necessary items.

The ICRC branch in Mt Hagen, Western Highlands, supplied 72 blankets, tooth pastes, tooth brushes, soap, detergents and mops to each cell block.

Head of the ICRC Mt Hagen branch Vincent Meyer said they were here to help the victims of armed conflicts.

“We are to help such victims and giving this support to the detainees is part of helping people.

“Some have come here because of trouble fights and many other issues affecting the societies,” Vincent said.

He said the ICRC had the heart to look into people who fell victims to fights and violence.

“These detainees here are people and we decided to supply them with these items so that they can live in a better place,” he said.

Vincent said ICRC was assisting the authorities so that they could look into ways of helping other detained people in police cells.

He said such support was normally given to people who were struggling to find better living.

Mt Hagen police station commander Senior Insp John Maguna commended  the staff and members of ICRC for the support.

He said since PNG gained independence, police cell blocks had never received any support.

“Such items were not provided and our job is to lock and feed them.

“But this is the first time for the inmates here to receive these items,” Maguna said.

He said the government normally looked at accommodating detainees properly at the jail.

“Some (detainees) have blankets while others do not have that and what ICRC is doing is a huge support,” Maguna said.

“I take this time to thank you for the support as this is the first of its kind for me to witness.”