Local Milne Bay community in desperate need of food and water
The prolonged dry spell has left families in Bogaboga village of Alotau, surviving with just one meal a day as they struggle to find water, that's quickly drying up.
The dry weather has severely damaged food gardens, disrupted way of living and has placed growing pressure on families as they struggle to secure food and drinking water in Milne Bay.
Bogaboga in Makamaka local level government is confronted with a growing crisis as food gardens continue to get damaged and water sources declining rapidly, leaving lives at risk, as the dry condition intensifies.
Ward councilor Reggie Konowana, said he is afraid his ward could be forced to move to nearby places in search of drinking water if the dry spell continues.
"We were depending on the rivers and streams but the intensity of the dry spell has caused most of our water sources to dry up," he said.
"Our well waters are now like small puddles of mud and now that we are going into the next month, we are afraid we might not find any water left and we might go to nearby wards to ask for water.
"We are now living on very young bananas, young pawpaws, coconut and fish. We are having only one meal a day and that is at dinner. But if the food is little, we make sure that only our kids eat."
Bogaboga residents in Alotau Town have taken the initiative and launched an urgent fundraising drive to urgently raise funds and send much-needed relief to their families and community back home within the next two weeks.
Fundraising Chairman Alwyn Yariyari said while awaiting government intervention, families in the village are in desperate need of assistance.
"Our families are very much affected and we cannot just sit and watch them suffer. We have gathered all our Bogaboga families in Alotau and have started a fundraising drive. Other residents of Makamaka LLG are welcomed to join because these are our people," Yariyari said.
"Government will come in to assist but as concerned families, we need to step up, support and help our people at the village".
He is appealing to Bogaboga and Makamaka LLG residents across the country to kindly support this fundraising drive and help families and communities back home with food and water.
The Fundraising Chairman can be reached on Digicel mobile phone number 7269 4641 and Bogaboga Ward Councilor on 7024 8360 should anyone wish to contribute to this appeal.