By WASITA ROYAL
Disaster assessment and relief efforts are gaining momentum across East New Britain Province as weather conditions slowly improve following the devastating impact of Cyclone Maila.
While floodwaters are receding in some areas, officials warn they remain a threat in others, and accessibility continues to be a major challenge.
Disaster Management Director Donald Tokunai has confirmed that less than 60 percent of Local Level Governments (LLGs) have submitted their assessment reports through districts to the Disaster Office. The lack of data has hampered the coordination of further assistance.
“Accessibility has been a major hurdle from day one,” Mr Tokunai said. “As weather conditions slowly improve, assessment teams are now moving into affected areas via IDAs. I hope more reports will come in as weather improves, allowing proper data to be recorded for further assistance.”
Despite the logistical difficulties, relief supplies have already been picked up by the Rabaul and Gazelle district administrations for distribution.
The private sector has stepped in with major donations as well. NH Trading Limited, under Managing Director Haroon Raseed, has provided aid to 89 households in Rabaul town and 135 households in Malaguna No.3, bringing the total to 224 families receiving food and supplies. The donation is part of the ongoing support for communities affected by severe flooding, which has damaged infrastructure and cut off access to several areas across the Gazelle District, Bainings, and surrounding regions.
Local construction company Atlumas Civil and Construction Limited has donated K100,000 worth of food rations to flood victims in three Baining LLGs: Sinivit, Open Bay, and Lassul. The relief was received by ENB Governor Michael Marum, Sinivit LLG President Boniface Gerep, and local ward members. Governor Marum thanked the company for its swift response, noting that the good weather is now allowing assessment teams to reach places that faced difficulty during the past few days.
Relief has also reached the Duke of York LLG, where officers from the East New Britain Governor’s Office, led by Redin Birau, delivered supplies at the JJ & H Seeto beach front.
LLG President Jack Kongkong and Acting LLG Manager Jack Karubim received the donation, which includes 100 bags of rice, 30 cartons of biscuits and noodles, five bales of sugar, 10 cartons of tinned fish, and garden foods like bananas, greens, and coconuts.
Mr Kongkong added that roofing iron will also be provided under the Kokopo district support. The supplies will be stored at the LLG headquarters at Kibil for further distribution based on assessment reports.
The KCA Board, headed by Open MP Ereman ToBaining Jnr, has approved funding support for flood-affected communities.
As thousands of households have now received food and supplies in Gazelle, Baining, Rabaul, and the Duke of York Islands, Mr. Tokunai confirmed that more assistance will arrive as additional LLG assessment reports are submitted and weather conditions allow further distributions.