UN gives additional K30mil for earthquake relief work

THE United Nations office in Papua New Guinea has given an additional US$9.2 million (K30 million) from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) for earthquake relief in the Highlands.
These funds will enable life-saving assistance to 144,172 people in the two most-affected provinces of Hela and the Southern Highlands following the 7.5 magnitude earthquake on Feb 26.
“The funds will help support the restoration of livelihoods and ensure that relief supplies and services such as food, safe drinking water, transitional shelter and medicines are reaching the people that need them the most,” UN resident coordinator Gianluca Rampolla said
He said the funds will also support the restoration of health facilities so that health services are reaching the people while ensuring safety and protection needs are being met for vulnerable people, including people living with disabilities, women, girls, boys, and men.
Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill acknowledged the support of the UN in his address to the special parliament sitting on the earthquake response on Tuesday.
He said: “We have enlisted the support of United Nations. They have now brought in experience in managing relief efforts such as this, particularly in receiving support, delivering and distribution.
Rampolla said: “We share the prime minister’s priority to ensure that relief supplies and services reach those who need them the most and the CERF funds will be used for this.”
The money is in addition to the UN’s emergency services and relief supplies already dispatched, and the response coordination support provided to the Government of PNG.