Villagers building stilt homes

PEOPLE in flood-prone areas of Wahgi valley in Jiwaka have started building stilt houses to avoid water getting into their homes.
Water Lily village at Waghi Bridge along the Highlands Highway is one such village which has always been hit by the flooding Waghi River.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) which partnered the Jiwaka provincial disaster office, through their programmes of building disaster resilient communities, advised communities like Water Lily to build houses on posts instead of their ground traditional floor homes.
People were advised to refrain from cutting trees on the river banks which act as natural barriers against tides and floods.
The National caught up with long-time resident of Water Lily, Father Michael, who settled there in 1972.
Michael said climate change had a dramatic effect on weather patterns which affected the environment, including natural systems and people’s lives.
“This community is living right next to the river. Whenever there is flood, food gardens and houses are washed away,” he said.
“We are badly affected because our houses have been flooded and that’s why most of the families squeeze up in one house.
“The disaster people and non-government organisations have advised us to build high post houses so that floods would not get into our houses.”
Michael said when Jiwaka was still part of Western Highlands, he gave some money to disaster coordinators to help his community with relief supplies.
“Help came but we never received any,” he said.
“The non-food items landed in the wrong hands in Jiwaka and went into personal use.
“We are living in a flood-prone area just like people in Kondopina and are hit hard every time there is a flood.
“I thank IOM for their assistance, but we still need help from the provincial government to build a stronger community that can withstand floods in a sustainable way.”