WNB grateful for support after eruption

THE West New Britain government has thanked companies, provincial governments and individuals for helping the people affected by the recent Mt Ulawun volcanic eruption.
This includes the media that assisted in reporting the disaster that attracted assistance from around Papua New Guinea.
Governor Francis Maneke on behalf of the 15,000 people affected by the eruption and now living in care centres thanked the many generous donations.
Maneke acknowledged the many assistance given and the commitments made by business houses, provincial governments, the people of PNG and the Government when receiving K100,000 from the Newcrest Mining Limited last Thursday.
He said the volcano eruption earlier this month had affected thousands and damaged properties, food gardens and other infrastructures such as schools and health centres.
He said of the 15,000, only 12,000 people were still living in the three care centres at Barema, Bakada and Kabaya while the 3,000 individuals who were mostly employees of the local Hargy Oil had returned.
“There are three groups of people now at the care centre,” Maneke said.
“These included the people of East New Britain, particularly from inland Pomio of Pomio district that shares a border with West New Britain,”
“The other group of people are from the oil palm milling company and the settlement scheme areas while the biggest group of people are from the local villages who have been affected by the eruption.”