Telefomin earthquake victims still without relief supplies

TELEFOMIN MP Solan Mirisim says people affected by the earthquake on February 26 and have had their gardens and properties destroyed are holping to get relief supplies this week.
The mountainous district of West Sepik shares border with Tari, in Hela, where the epicentre of the earthquake was located.
A report on the damage compiled by the district authorities was given last week to the Disaster and Restoration Committee in Port Moresby.
The assessment of the damage was carried out by government officials, teachers and mission workers. There was no report of casualties.
“Landslips in a number of areas destroyed food gardens, houses and waters tanks for villages, schools and the church collapsed,” Mirisim said.
He visited the district on March 3 with fellow ministers James Marape, Petrus Thomas and Kevin Isifu.
“A science laboratory and a classroom at the Telefomin Secondary School were destroyed. The school’s water tanks collapsed,” he said.
He said the Oksapmin High School reported damage to infrastructure but was able to continue classes.
“They put the number of people affected by this disaster at 2000. Gardens, which is their food source, have been destroyed so we need to get food supplies in as soon as possible,” Mirisim said.
Poles for power lines from a small hydro-power plant built in the 1980s were knocked down, disrupting the power supply to schools, homes, mission and government workers and the district office.
“We have a fair bit of rebuilding to do. Luckily no lives were lost. The report is now with the controller so hopefully supplies can be flown in this week,” he said. Supplies can be flown from Mt Hagen or Port Moresby to Telefomin airstrip, which was not affected by the earthquake.