Relief funds yet to reach affected areas in Madang

By MAZIE SELMBIA
DISASTER relief funds for Madang are yet to reach affected areas because there is no chief treasury officer to sign the release papers, according to the Madang Disaster Office.
Office director Rudolf Mongallee confirmed that disaster funds were awaiting distribution.
“The disaster relief money has been received but we do not have the Section 32 in place to sign for the funds to be released,” Mongallee said.
He said provincial administrator Frank Lau, who is also the chief treasury officer, is currently facing legal action and could not perform his duties to expedite the transfer of funds for use in the affected areas.
“Our provincial administrator is currently facing legal charges and cannot perform his office duties, resulting in the delay in releasing funds to the disaster-affected areas,” Mongallee said.
He said the provincial treasury office and its accounts were open but the funds had to be signed by the chief treasury officer to be released.
Mongallee said that assessments had been completed and data collected from the disaster affected areas.
Last month due to heavy rainfall, ,the Ramu River flooded, affecting villages from upper, lower and middle Ramu as well as villages in Sumkar and Bogia of Madang.
The national government allocated K1 million as disaster relief funds to Madang province earlier this month for food supplies only.
This year, the flooding of Ramu River was particularly severe following prolonged rain periods.
The flood waters affected food gardens, homes, roads and bridges and governmental services such as schools and health centre.