Four thousand households to benefit from IOM emergency relief supplies

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is targeting 4,000 households severely affected by natural disasters in Papua New Guinea to benefit from its disaster relief items.

IOM is a related organization of the United Nations, working as a leading agency in the field of migration, providing humanitarian assistance, driving solutions for displaced people and facilitating pathways for regular migration.

An IOM delegation paid a visit to Lae warehouse, that's keeping all relief supplies to attend to disaster-stricken areas last week.

IOM's Deputy Regional Director, Diane Epstein, said in an interview that IOM is aware of PNG's catastrophic situation and is depending on its donors to work together, including the Australian Government and the American Government.

Epstein explained that only 4,000 households will be assisted, focusing on the most vulnerable who have suffered from Malia and El Niño.

"The relief items consist of household items like utensils that people will be able to use for cooking, buckets to fetch water, and dignity kits for women that they can use for health and safety purposes," Epstein said.

IOM has already reached out to 1,300 households in five provinces, New Ireland, Bougainville, East New Britain, West New Britain and Milne Bay, where they provided food supplies and WASH kits.

The Highlands region is next on the list, with Hela, Enga and Western Highlands to be visited, where they will receive WASH kits donated by the Australian Government.

Inspections were also carried out to provide proper water and sanitation services to some of the areas.

They were accompanied by the Australian Consulate, Mr. Brenton Kanwosky, during their visit to Lae, where they visited a warehouse for the items, a women's safe house and inspected an old water project that has benefited the Labu Tale people for almost a decade.