No boats, no aircraft to deliver 500 tonnes of relief to North Fly

The ships remain stranded as the Fly River dries up, preventing them from moving. (Image: 20's Media)

The National Government is working on establishing a National Emergency Authority, to properly coordinate and work assisting disaster affected communities across the country.

Minister for Disaster Services Dr. Billy Joseph said its [Authority paper] at its final stages and ready to be brought before cabinet.

Disaster Service Minister, Dr Billy Joseph told Parliament the National Emergency Authority paper is in its final stage. (Image: National Parliament)

“We will bring it to Parliament to make sure that we have a fully established National Emergency Authority in this country, just like in Australia, New Zealand, and even in the United States.”

Dr Joseph was responding to questions from North Fly MP, James Donald in Parliament on the lack of a national disaster response system and the possibility of a state of emergency declaration for this El Nino period.

North Fly MP, James Donald told Parliament, the Fly River is fast drying up preventing food and fuel supplies from being brought to Kiunga and Tabubil in North Fly District. (Image: National Parliament)

“What is the National Government's long-term strategic plan to establish a permanent, fully funded and well-equipped National Disaster Response Unit with dedicated assets such as aircraft, buses and other emergency response equipment to ensure that Papua New Guinea can respond swiftly and effectively to disaster anywhere in the country?

Our people deserve a disaster response system that is prepared before a crisis strikes, not one that struggles to respond after lives and livelihoods have already been lost or affected,” Donald said.

Donald said PNG is a disaster prone country and despite this, the national response is largely reactive rather than proactive.

He gave the example of his province, where he is yet to distribute 500 tonnes of relief supplies to his people.

“In my province, fires are happening, rivers are drying up, ships cannot move and there are no supplies.

"The people of Western Province have no water to drink, they are looking for water to cook and the most affected are those in my district. We are running out of fuel because no ship is able to move these supplies. Our only means of survival is through air.

"I have been trying to supply 500 tonnes of relief supplies to my people. To my embarrassment, there is no barge, there is no aircraft, no nothing, because I can't bring in the supplies into the district, only through air. Fly River has dried up and it's very serious. This is a serious catastrophe,” Donald said.

Empty shelves of a shop in Kiunga town today. (Image: Inock Pala)

At this stage, the National Government is not considering the declaration of a state of emergency to deal with the El Nino crisis experienced across the country.