THE Australian Government has deployed a specialist humanitarian team and pledged K3 million (about AU$1 million) to support Papua New Guinea’s relief efforts following the impact of tropical cyclone Maila.
The assistance focuses on the most devastated regions, including the Autonomous Region of Bougainville and islands within Milne Bay.
The funding is being facilitated through the Australian Humanitarian Partnership, which works alongside non-governmental organisations and local partners to provide essential items such as cooking utensils, sleeping mats, and water containers.
As part of the immediate surge support, a two-person Australia Assists Rapid Response Team has arrived in PNG to work with the National Disaster Centre (NDC).
This team consists of experienced responders, including five members from the Pacific, and is designed to deploy within 48 hours of a disaster.
Australia Assists Rapid Response team leader, Peter Grzic, is currently on the ground in Bougainville.
“The purpose of the mission is to provide on-the-ground coordination and support to the National Disaster Centre, the Disaster Centre in Milne Bay, and the Central Command Centre in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, acting at the direction of the government leaders and supporting their priorities,” he said outlining the primary goals of the mission.
Grzic added that the team’s initial work involves helping the NDC manage information to understand the full extent of the cyclone’s damage.
“More specifically the initial focus will be on supporting communications and information management functions of the NDC to gain a clear picture of the damage caused by Maila,” he said. The Rapid Response Team remains self-sufficient during its deployment, which typically lasts up to 14 days, ensuring they do not place additional strain on local resources while assisting national disaster management organisations.
Meanwhile, the ENB Governor’s office donated food items to affected islands in the Kokopo’s Duke of York Islands LLG over the weekend.
Ward members from the five affected atolls accepted the relief supplies at the Kokopo’s John Jay Seeto Beachfront on Saturday.
ENB disaster management director Donald ToKunai said that distribution of relief supplies started for Rabaul and Gazelle, coordinated from their headquarters.
ToKunai said only half of the province’s LLGs had submitted assessment reports to the disaster office in Kokopo.
