PNG: Flood victims stranded and facing starvation
Updated
Disaster officials in Papua New Guinea are continuing to assess the damage from heavy flooding caused by cyclone Guba. But officials in worst-hit Oro province say stranded people are facing starvation and disease if they don't receive immediate help. More than 70 people have reportedly died in Papua New Guinea with another 13 thousand left homeless in Oro province after heavy flooding hit the province. Around 450 houses in villages throughout the province have been washed away, with roads, bridges and crops destroyed.
Presenter: Megan Flamer
Speakers: Copland Gewa, coordinator for disaster in Oro province
GEWA: As an administration we have got our response teams, our assessment teams all ready. Some have got some basic supplies, some medicines ready to be distributed. But unfortunately we are unable to secure any helicopters to come and assist.
FLAMER: So what needs to be done at this stage?
GEWA: What needs to be done is we need some helicopters here ASAP, as a matter of urgency.
FLAMER: We heard that many of the roads were swept away?
GEWA: Not many of the roads, it's the entire road network has been literally swept away.
FLAMER: So what problems are people in the villages facing at this stage?
GEWA: Starvation, starvation is the first, secondly outbreak of diseases, thirdly there's a large number of people who are homeless, many of them have got no clothes, many of them have lost their essentials, the food gardens are all gone, and now with the water level subsiding and with the weather improving there is a desperate need for basic medicines to be distributed to some of these areas.
FLAMER: How many people are in desperate need of aid?
GEWA: The entire population of Oro province because it has affected all four corners of Oro province, both from the ... border right to the ... border, up in the mountains from Kira(?) all to ???, Kokoda??? following right up to the ??? bay. They're sending in assessment team in the next few days and that will be able to ascertain ... there will be ... yes, definitely we are getting some assistance. We've got some water and some medicines, some tarpaulins and all those things have already been donated and they should be reaching Oro Bay in the next few days. Our biggest problem is getting them out from Oro Bay into distribution centre to be distributed on its way.
FLAMER: We've got a number of different figures on the number of deaths that have been caused by this. Have you been able to confirm the number of dead at this stage?
GEWA: Figures are increasing by the day, figures are increasing by the day so I'm unable to clarify that.
FLAMER: We heard that there were more than 70?
GEWA: Correct, that's quite correct but it's increasing by the day.
FLAMER: But you haven't been able to given an official figure at this stage?
GEWA: No not at the moment.
FLAMER: As the waters recede are more of the roads becoming available to get aid through?
GEWA: No, it's totally impassable, the only way is by air, and that's through choppers. I'm not talking about our roads and bridges washed away, I'm not talking about just minor sort of damage, I'm talking about nearly most of the bridges have literally been washed away, including all the foundations that was constructed prior to independence and straight after independence.
