Villagers struggling to recover after quake, councillor says

By Rebecca Kuku
HUNDREDS of villagers in a ward in Nipa-Kutubu district of Southern Highlands need shelter, clean water and food immediately after they lost homes and gardens during Monday’s 7.5 magnitude earthquake.
The epicentre was located 40km from their village. Purim ward councillor Eric Manjal told The National that since Monday, tremors were still being felt from the aftershocks.
“One of our village men was killed in a landslide and all our homes and gardens were destroyed. Our livestock, pigs and chickens are all lost,” he said.
“The rivers where we get clean water to drink and cook are all black.”
Manjal said the ward had a population of more than 800 people.
“The tremors have not stopped. The weather too has not been kind. Every night it rains,” he said.
“We have not slept since the big earthquake as we fear a landslide will kill us while sleeping.”
Minister for Inter-Government Relations Kevin Isifu, who is also responsible for national disaster management said they were aware of the shortage of food and access to clean water and were working to provide relief supplies.
“A team from the disaster office is already on the ground and will send in a detailed assessment tomorrow (today),” he said.
“The report and a submission will be given to NEC tomorrow (today) for funds to be released to assist the people.”