Anglican Diocese of Popondota

Floods Cripple Oro

Popondetta, Oro Province, Papua New Guinea

Friday 16th November 2007

The flooding in Oro has reached a full scale emergency. Three quarters of the population of Oro; men, women and children are directly affected. Villages along the coast from Kewnsasap to Manau are almost submerged  with rising sea and expanding river deltas. Flash floods roared down the rivers on Thursday 15th and information on the extent of the havoc caused is just starting to come in. The Anglican Health Services have so far received updates from their outstations. The reports that have been sent in indicate the disaster to be province-wide and many areas out off reach from the Anglican centres are also badly affected. Information from such areas will take the weekend to trickle in. The full impact of this disaster can only be envisioned. Unless an immediate aerial assessment is done and emergency teams deployed many more lives will be at stake. Oro bay LLG: At Eroro, part of the Primary school and teachers houses near the bank of the Eroro river and four bridges from Oro bay down have been washed away. Beama is all underwater with the sea coming right up to the road. At Kopure 4 children and an adult are reported missing and one person in need for emergency care. Ioma district: Korisata village and primary school along the banks of the Kumusi river have been washed down and all people have moved to higher ground. The only building still standing is the aid post. Deboin, whole village washed away. At Katuna, St. Margaret’s School of Nursing students on practical training reported that pieces of iron roofing and debris of household items were seen floating out at sea. Their attempts to make contact with Bakumbari in the North Coast district have not been answered. Ambasi is being threatened by rising sea levels. In Buna people have climbed up to their roofs to escape the rising water levels. Kokoda district, at Hanjiri, 5 houses were swept away by the Diwune river and one child is missing. The Kumsi bridge has also been lost to the divulge. Afore district: Sakarina has so far registered the highest toll in casualties. Numba area lost 14 people and at Awaru 5 were lost to landslides and are yet to be confirmed dead or missing. 8 children are currently stranded on an islet surrounded by raging torrents that cannot be crossed to reach them. Tufi District: Uiaku primary school and village are all underwater and 7 houses have been swept into the sea. At Airara, the people have scattered after the village was fully submerged. Ajoa couldn’t be reached. Popondetta town, houses along the Bangoho river have been washed away and 300 people were evacuated to Resurrection primary school and Popondetta council chamber.1 women and 3 children are still missing.  The administrative centre of Oro province is totally cut off from the rest of the province with all major bridges along Kokoda and Oro Bay destroyed and extensive flooding in lowland areas. People where possible are now trekking across the flood plains and flooding rivers into town for supplies. A contingency meeting was held on Friday at 9:00 and another at 3:00 in the afternoon. We expect a team of engineers to fly in today (Saturday 17th) and then food supplies to Martyrs, Embogo and Bareji High schools to be delivered. Another two helicopters are expected to be in the province by Sunday to deliver services to hard hit areas. It is estimated that the fuel stock in Popondetta will last about a month and  that more supply is needed.

Business houses and all stakeholders are called to assist where ever possible. Communication network has been established using the existing network in the province i.e. Provincial  Administration and disaster office, Provincial Health Services, Anglican Health Services and  Salvation Army radio network. PNG Telikom will provide additional lines while NBC Radio Northern will be  back to service. Departmental heads were tasked to organised teams to assess and monitor areas  accessible by roads. The Oro provincial  Governor and the two open MPs are expected to fly in to the province via Lae by today.  An urgent call has been made for a bigger ship for relief supply and evacuation from Lae for villages along the coast.

The diocesan office is working round the clock with the Anglican Health Services to provide up to date information from all around the province to Provincial disaster and Administration office.

Sunday   Nov 18th

NGO's have come together to respond to the emergency. Churches especially have been approached directly by people seeking help since help from the government is delayed. Fustrations are starting to show over slow delivery of relief. So far Caritas has assisted over 300 displaced people sheltering at the Resurrection Primary School and the Town Council Chambers. The Catholic organisation has also sent out assessment teams on request from victims along the coast from Oro Bay to Gona. We expect them to be back in Popondetta on Monday evening. Rice rations delivered by helicopter for students at Martyrs' Secondary School was possible thanks to pressure from our Diocesan Education Secretary. Students from Embogo High school are scattered with some making their way down to Popondetta and are now sheltered at the Secondary School. Some are gathered in Kararata and nearby villages. As yet there is no news from Bareji High School.

In the unscheduled meeting this afternoon, the churches and Red Cross agreed to go forward with assessing problem areas and reporting to a working committee to organise the supply of food, clothes and medicine to badly affected areas. Target areas are set at North Coast ie. Gona to Manau, Siai, Korisata and surrounding area. Safia, Musa and the coast from Oro Bay to Ako. The first patrol to North Cost will take place on Monday 19th.

The rain is abating however there is still danger from landslides, sudden floods and diseases. Teams going out to affected areas will be doing so as volunteers and will be at risk. We ask  your prayers for strength and resolve to carry this through.