By WASITA ROYAL
A village in East New Britain that supplies fresh food to markets across the province and produces large amounts of cocoa and coconut is now completely cut off and going hungry after multiple roads were destroyed by cyclone-force winds and flooding.
Ramale Village in Gazelle District is only two kilometers from the NCR Vunamarita main road. But that feeder road, along with three others, is now impassable.
The destroyed roads include: Vunamarita to Vunakainakapiaka, Vunakainakapiaka to Ramale, Ramale to Kabaira, and Ratongor to Rongona then to Ramale.
Youth representative Alfred Topi says no vehicle can get in, and residents cannot get out. Their food gardens are destroyed, and children are going hungry. The village’s cocoa and coconut harvests a major source of income for families are destroyed as well and some are awaiting to be transported to town.
Topi has already written urgent letters to the Provincial Disaster Office and the Gazelle District Administration, requesting rice, tinned fish, blankets, clean water, and bulldozers to clear the roads. Tomorrow, he will travel to Kokopo to personally deliver the letters and follow up at those offices.
He says Ramale Village is one of the main suppliers of vegetables, betel nut, and mustard to Kokopo and Rabaul and Kerevat markets, in addition to its cocoa and coconut production.
No relief supplies have arrived. No heavy equipment has been deployed. Topi says he has video and photo evidence of the damage and can share it immediately. He is pleading for help before someone gets hurt or worse.