Western still struggling despite recent rain

RAIN this week in Western was not enough to raise the water level in the Fly River.
Waetang Kago, the head teacher of Taeme Primary School in Trans Fly, South Fly district, in Daru, said the river had been affected by affected by the dry weather since September. It is making it difficult for large vessels to reach Kiunga to unload food supplies.
He said the people were finding it difficult to buy food in the two main stores – New Century Supermarket and New Guinea Pride Supermarket – in Kiunga.
“The price of one kilogramme of rice is K10,” he said.
“The prices of other food items have increased and people are complaining.”
He said two women recently fought over a 1kg bag of rice.
“There are limiting the food items to customers. That is the kind of rule they are using to serve customers now,” he said.
“The shop tellers have set quotas for customers.”
He said the supply of medicine to the Rumginae Hospital and Kiunga Hospital were also affected.