Dozens die as drought intensifies

PORT MORESBY – In Papua New Guinea there are unconfirmed reports dozens of people have died from starvation and disease as a drought tightens its grip on the Pacific nation.

The impact of the drought has been compounded by frosts which have destroyed crops in the country’s populous highlands.

The PNG government says it’s coping with the disaster for now, but it may have to call on its neighbours for help if the dry conditions persist.

The Post-Courier reports the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill announcing large quantities of rice and canned tuna have now reached several parts of the Highlands.

O’Neill says relief supplies will continue until current climate issues are resolved.

He says the response has been carefully managed to ensure relief reaches the families and communities are in need.

The Prime Minister says so far the Government has allocated US$8.7 million dollars in relief aid.

Meanwhile, a container full of relief supplies for people affected by frost and drought in the Erave district of

Southern Highlands Province was robbed of all its contents last Thursday.

Locals reportedly blocked the road with a log, stopped the container truck and unloaded bags of rice, tinned fish, cooking oil, salt and other basics, Erave district project coordinator Gideon Kuma said.

Kuma, who was in the district with the people waiting for the supplies to arrive, said more than 500 people were very angry, confused and helpless when they heard that their food supplies had been stolen.

He said the Erave district administration and the people are blaming the Southern Highlands Provincial Government for not allowing the provincial disaster office to distribute the relief supplies.

“Instead, the relief supplies are distributed by people outside of the disaster office which has resulted in our food supplies being robbed,” Kuma said.

Communities in Southern Highlands Province have received some form of relief supplies while the districts and communities in Western Highlands Province are yet to get relief supplies, the Post-Courier reports.