3,000 Central Hagen hailstorm villagers ignored, left starving
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| Epa Wak, a mother of four from Teregi Village, showing decaying kaukau tubers in her garden that was pelted by hailstorm ice on Christmas Day afternoon. - Pictures courtesy of ROBIN YAKUMB and The National. |
3,000 Central Hagen hailstorm villagers ignored, left starving
PORT MORESBY: What a shame! Ten days after a hailstorm pelted ice, the size of marbles, for 45 minutes destroying crops and livestock in Western Highlands’ Hagen Cenntral, some 3,000 villagers are still being ignored by the Government.
The livelihood of the farmers are ruined as their gardens and fields turned dry and brown with hunger and starvation setting in.
They are now very upset with the authorities and are asking where is the National Emergency and Disaster Centre?
PNG Cyber Monitor sympathises with the affected villagers and farmers and pray that help is on the way soon for them.
Their plight was reported by The National:
Over 3,000 affected by hailstorm
THE Christmas Day 45-minute afternoon hailstorm has ruined the livelihood of more than 3,000 villagers in Western Highlands’ Hagen Central, provincial disaster coordinator Robin Yakumb says.
“The hailstorm struck three council wards ravaging the entire Truka-Memeka,” he said after conducting a site damage assessment inspection.
He said that some people from Jiga Muguka and Kumuga-Paga who share the border with Trika-Memeka were also affected.
“The villagers have been badly hit, they really need urgent assistance to overcome this natural disaster,” Yakumb added.
“All food gardens, especially root crops like kaukau, have all been destroyed by the ice that pelted the area,” he said.
Yakumb said kaukau tubers were infected with kaukau-borne disease, decaying due to water.
“My office has had no funding for the last five years to help those affected by natural disaster,” he said.
“We used to depend on the National Emergency and Disaster Centre for help.
“The hailstorm victims are in dire need for assistance to rebuild their livelihood.”
Yakumb said it was the first time this part of the Highlands was hit by a hailstorm and “it is probably due to climate change”.
“It is time for the Government to start budgeting for such natural disasters,” he added.
Jiga Mukuga ward councillor David Anis thanked Yakumb for his disaster assessment inspection visit.
“No one from the Government has taken the trouble to visit and look into our plight since Christmas. The people are very upset,” he added.
“The longer we are ignored, the likely that someone may die of hunger,” he said, slamming the National Emergency and Disaster Centre for irresponsibility.
“The hailstorm struck three council wards ravaging the entire Truka-Memeka,” he said after conducting a site damage assessment inspection.
He said that some people from Jiga Muguka and Kumuga-Paga who share the border with Trika-Memeka were also affected.
“The villagers have been badly hit, they really need urgent assistance to overcome this natural disaster,” Yakumb added.
“All food gardens, especially root crops like kaukau, have all been destroyed by the ice that pelted the area,” he said.
Yakumb said kaukau tubers were infected with kaukau-borne disease, decaying due to water.
“My office has had no funding for the last five years to help those affected by natural disaster,” he said.
“We used to depend on the National Emergency and Disaster Centre for help.
“The hailstorm victims are in dire need for assistance to rebuild their livelihood.”
Yakumb said it was the first time this part of the Highlands was hit by a hailstorm and “it is probably due to climate change”.
“It is time for the Government to start budgeting for such natural disasters,” he added.
Jiga Mukuga ward councillor David Anis thanked Yakumb for his disaster assessment inspection visit.
“No one from the Government has taken the trouble to visit and look into our plight since Christmas. The people are very upset,” he added.
“The longer we are ignored, the likely that someone may die of hunger,” he said, slamming the National Emergency and Disaster Centre for irresponsibility.
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