Mendi-Munihu district distributes rice to communities

The Mendi-Munihu District Development Authority (MMDDA) has distributed rice bags to families hard-hit by the ongoing El Niño drought that has left many households facing severe food shortages.

Mendi-Munihu District Administrator Philip Koka confirmed the distribution, stating that the district used K2.5 million in relief funding provided by the National Government.

Seven Hino trucks loaded with food supplies arrived at the Mendi-Munihu District Office at Six Mile, Tente, with supplies officially distributed to communities in the Upper Mendi Local Level Government (LLG) — making them the first communities in the district to receive the much-needed assistance. After Upper Mendi, Karinz LLG distributed its share and today Lai Valley LLG is distributing its share.

Lai Valley LLG President Manuel Olpa acknowledged the Mendi-Munihu DDA under the leadership of MP Raphael Tonpi for looking into the poor people's need and distributing rice to address the El Niño-induced food shortage.

"But for the ordinary people, the reality is very different. Some will say a bag of rice is not enough — and that may be true. But there are very poor families, families whose gardens and crops have completely failed due to the El Niño drought, who deeply appreciate this effort.

Mendi Munihu district LLG presidents and their people in front of the containers where the rice are stored in Mendi. Upper Mendi LLG was the first to distribute rice to the people *(Supplied)*

“For them, this rice is not just food, it is hope. It is the difference between going to bed hungry and feeding their children for another day," President Olpa said.

District CEO Mr Koka said while other basic food items were not included in this first round of rice bags, responding to the people's plea for help was critical as many families had gone hungry.

"Addressing the people's plea for help is important. In the second round, the Mendi-Munihu DDA can look at other food items as well. For now, this is from the immediate assistance funding given by the National Government which the MMDDA used to purchase them" Koka said.

The distribution was led by Upper Mendi LLG President Kevin Sapul, together with Karinz LLG President Simon Tolpe and Lai Valley President Manuel Olpa.