Thousands stranded after two bridges washed away

TWO bridges used by nearly 20,000 people in Upper Jimi in the remote Jimi district of Jiwaka were washed away by floods on Thursday last week.
The first bridge that perished was at Kun River and the second at Jimning River, about 7km apart, and situated along the Karap-Kol Road that leads to Kol Station.
Assistant district administrator John Awi said Jimi High School at Kol was facing difficulty because of that.
“We also have elementary and primary schools, aid posts, churches and their establishments and district functions directly affected,” Awi said.
“People have no choice. They have to carry store goods or household items and walk from Kun to Kol, which is about 15 kilometres.”
Awi said people living along the two rivers lost gardens and coffee plants when the rivers broke their banks.
Vehicles, mostly four-wheel-drive Land Cruisers, loaded with basic school supplies, medical kits and people and goods, have to unload and turn back at Kun, which is about 50km from Banz.
Jimi district chief executive officer Lawrence Itali led a team of engineers from the Jiwaka Works engineering division, disaster response officers from the Department of Primary Industries and the media to the bridge sites on Tuesday
He said it was quite expensive to build a new bridge in each of the location.
“Government is currently responding to the situations in Southern Highlands and Hela. We may experience funding problems,” Itali said.
“It will take some time before new bridges are built. I urge the people to remain patient.
“District funds alone cannot meet the cost of the bridges.
“We need donors and non-government agencies to come in.”