Relief for islanders facing food shortage

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK in Misima
STRUGGLING villagers on two remote islands of Samarai-Murua in Milne Bay were provided relief when local MP Henry Isi Leonard visited them recently.
Around 1,000 villagers suffering from a food shortage expressed their joy at Leonard’s unannounced visit.
About K130,000 worth of food were distributed to villagers under the Covid-19 relief and awareness operation.
Villagers on the islands of Egom (about 450 villagers) and Nasikwabu (also about 450 villagers) in the Woodlark group of islands had been surviving on coconuts and fish for the last eight months after a drought had dried up their food gardens.
Nasikwabu councillor Sam Elewali said the situation had got so bad that two weeks ago, 80 men from the village had left in eight canoes for Woodlark Island to make sago to bring back.
He said the villagers had planned to travel to the district office on Misima to seek assistance but they had no fuel for their dinghies to make the one-day trip; mobile phone coverage was also poor.
Elewali said the villagers were happy and relieved to see that their MP had come to their aid when he came on a barge with food and supplies.
Leonard was accompanied by police, district officials and members of the media to the two islands to deliver relief supplies.