Severe thunderstorms affecting villages in Kikori

By KELVIN JOE
VILLAGERS in remote Kikori, Gulf, have appealed for help after seeking refuge in neighbouring villages following recent conditions in their area which had affected food supply.
Community spokesman Morea Katosa said several hectares of rainforests and grassland at Tarai Hills near Haiwaro village in West Kikori were impacted by incessant thunderstorms with lightning strikes common in the area over the last two months.
“The villagers, especially the children and elderly people, were now complaining of headaches, vomiting and diarrhea while others have moved to nearby villages due to an unpleasant smell coming from the affected area,” he said.
Katosa said the situation was becoming unbearable and had caused most of Haiwaro’s 500 inhabitants to leave the village.
He said the lightning would continue to strike in the same area which was used for gardening and hunting for up to three days than stop before and continuing again.
He added that this had been happening since November.
“All the trees, plants and grass are dying due to continuous rainstorm as lightning continue to strike this particular area,” he said.
Local primary school head teacher Alex Mark urged the national and provincial disaster offices to assess the situation on the ground and take action to help the affected people.
“The disaster officers must come with medical supplies to Haiwaro village soon to find out what is going on and see if it is safe for us to continue to live here,” he said.
Haiwaro is situated in the province’s north-west near the borders with Western and Southern Highlands.