Earthquake Response – Papua New Guinea (as of 11th March)
Following the 7.6 magnitude earthquake that hit Papua New Guinea on February 26th and the many strong aftershocks, MAF PNG has been working hard to bring relief, supplies and medical assistance to those affected.
With regards to the information that MAF has compiled about what areas need assistance, Major Rob Mitchell from the Australian Defence Force has commented “Information from MAF is gold”.
Below are the latest information and some stories sourced from our team on the ground, as of 11th March 2018.
Report from Michael Duncalfe, MAF Pilot
The severe aftershock has caused large cracks in the airstrip surface at Huya. These now extend close to the centreline at one point and will affect flights to the community. If they get worse, the airstrip will have to be closed completely, making the community only accessible by helicopter for further relief flights.
A large number of people gathered around the sides of the airstrip as they watched the aircraft unloaded. Despite their difficult situation they watched quietly and patiently, a couple of times breaking into spontaneous applause as the food, water, tarpaulins and other supplies were unloaded.
I wished that it was possible to do more. I did my best to encourage the people and to assure them that they were not forgotten, but at a time like this action is required, not just words. I promised them that MAF was doing all that it could to ensure that aid would be delivered to them and the nearby affected communities.
Relief Flight, 8th March
On March 8th, another MAF flight took relief goods to earthquake-affected areas, eventually landing back at Mt Hagen: Pilot Steven Eatwell went from Kiunga via Suabi to Bosavi and over Tari before returning to Mt Hagen.
Another flight done, bringing help and hope to the people in need. Thanks to everyone who made this flight happen!
Report from Anton Lutz, Missionary
A little summary of some of Friday’s actions of care and love to the earthquake-stricken communities by Anton Lutz.
Anton Lutz is an Enga-based Lutheran missionary who was flown by helicopter into Dodomona on Tuesday morning in order to monitor the situation on the ground. He is still with the people during this time of hardship.
Be encouraged by his report from Dodomona. There is hope amidst all the devastation!
“Most of the people from the fourteen villages surrounding Dodomona had arrived but there was one group which had not. Gulubia was missing almost entirely. Eight people were believed to be dead. Eight others were believed to be across the tortured rivers, unable to get back to our side, and nearly forty were… missing entirely. On Wednesday, near noon, they arrived. They had been moving through the crumbling mountains since Sunday morning, trying to get to the refuge at Dodomona.
“We should have died. The ground was moving under us, the trees were shaking above us. The rivers are thick. The fish are dead. Nothing is safe. God brought us through.”
I look at the twelve year old boy standing near his father, holding his father’s axe that is still too big for him to swing. He’s listening as his father relates their journey through night and day.
They’re at the camp now. And later that afternoon the eight missing were found. And we found the eight who were thought to be dead alive on a distant ledge. And though they are not reunited yet, still, it’s a good day for Gulubia.”
A Thank You Note from Mt Hagen Hospital
On behalf of the hospital and management I want to acknowledge the effort MAF have put in since day one of this disaster, we pray that those who have been affected by the earthquake may have the peace in their heart, I know for sure they will because all Christian all across the country have been praying, and for those who have lost their love ones may have the hope to see them in heaven when Christ Jesus come to take all his people to his heavenly home, amen..
I have nothing to give them for what they have lost but hoping that our God will bless them and provide for them according to his riches in heaven.
I’m going well with the care that they need at this time.
On behalf of all the caring patients at the wards, I want to say thank you to all the staff and Management of MAF for the tremendous job done during time.
May our good Lord bless you all.
Thank you.
Reginol. Kiko
More Supplies Received
A big thank you today goes to Port Moresby to ITI and SIL who both made a difference in providing assistance to the earthquake affected communities by their donations and assistance to fly the water to the Highlands.
“The photos show the cheque presentation and loading of the water bottles. ITI is a private Higher Learning institution which has been in the country for almost 19 years. It has 10 campuses all around the country including Mt Hagen where many students from the affected Hela and Southern Highlands Provinces attend classes. We also have students from these two provinces attending our Port Moresby and Lae campus. Part of ITI’s social obligation to the community around, is to contribute in assisting people affected by natural disasters all around the country.
For the earthquake-stricken areas, we have donated 110 cartons of bottled water (600ml) and K1000 cheque donation to MAF to assist them with fuel in transporting the goods and supplies to the affected areas.
A big thanks to our Managing Director, Mr Kumaran Sentheyval for his approval and assistance during this time.
We hope this donation may go a long way in helping our people in the remote parts who have been severely affected by the earthquake and pray that they are safe.
May God Bless you all for your continuous help and support!
Thank you,
Ms Namah Makindi, Human Resource Manager, International Training Institute”
A Report from Mathias Glass, MAF PNG Pilot
“It was in the afternoon when we took off with a fully loaded Cessna Caravan (C208). The flight was loaded with plastic bottles of drinking water, several bags of rice, tinned meat and fish, four rain collection units and four bush toilets. The supplies were desperately needed because the earthquake had destroyed gardens, contaminated rivers normally used for fresh drinking water and landslides had washed away the original bush toilets.
We departed Mt Hagen in good weather and visibility. We passed PNG’s second highest mountain, Mt. Giluwe, and then the village of Mendi on the northern side. We then flew as directly as possible to our first destination, Muluma. The usual afternoon clouds were already forming on the ridges of the southern Highlands, making navigation difficult. The radio was constantly chattering with the voices of pilots from several relief aircraft and helicopters flying in and out of Moro. Moro is an airfield being used as a hub for larger aircraft bringing in supplies. Smaller aircraft and helicopters then depart taking the supplies out to the earthquake-shaken villages.
Because of time constraints, we were not able to survey a lake which was forming in the Hegigio River valley as a result of being blocked by a landslide. The biggest fear is that the dam created by dirt, rocks and logs will eventually give way, causing a big flood which will wash away everything close to the river banks. We needed to find a village that was reported as being close to the river and in possible danger of such a flood. I spotted a very small village close to the river with two major landslides that could possibly mean a loss of houses and lives. I made a mental note of its position. On our way back to Hagen, we would fly at low level to get the coordinates of that village and then set up a helicopter rescue mission.
Landing at Muluma was challenging because the afternoon westerly winds had picked up dramatically, causing turbulence and wind shear on the short final approach. The people in Muluma greeted us with an obvious sense of thankfulness. While Mandy Glass, MAF PNG’s Communications Officer, was interviewing the village people, Luke and I unloaded the first half of the relief supplies.
I realised that the villagers would need training in order to set up the rain collection units and bush toilets. While the system is simple, it does require some work and knowledge. Using the Melanesian way of explaining important things at least three times, I made sure that the people standing close and watching understood how the setup works. The rain collection unit consists of a small round tank with a tarpaulin attached to its lid. The tarpaulin is held up by wooden sticks at the four corners and catches the rain. A strainer in the middle of the tarpaulin releases the water into the tank. A tap at the bottom of the tank is used to fill buckets or other containers.
The bush toilets are made out of a steel drum with no ends. A hole is dug and a steel drum is placed vertically in the hole. A toilet seat is then attached to the top of the drum. Walls for privacy and a roof are then fabricated out of banana leaves and bush materials. After just an 11 minute flight from Muluma we arrived overhead of Bosavi. Because of the strong crosswinds we were not sure if a landing could be attempted. We started an approach to check the lower winds and determined that it was safe to land.”
Report by MAF PNG Pilot, Luke Newell
Another flight was completed by the Hagen-based Caravan, piloted by Luke Newell, again departing in the morning hours from Mt Hagen for Muluma and Bosavi. He carried rice and water to the communities around the Bosavi airstrip, and then care packs with soap and hygiene items, pots and plates to Muluma, another village which has become home to around 4,000 people. At the moment, many surrounding communities are leaving their houses and coming to the airstrip to seek relief goods. Everyone is scared because their houses have been falling over during different aftershocks. Even gardens are being shaken up and disturbed.
A few houses were destroyed or shaken up during the 6.7 aftershock that occurred at 00:13 on 7-March. Luke gave his relief items to the MAF agents on the ground; they then distributed them.
Luke reports:
“I saw at least two people who were bruised; a man talking to me had a gash on his right cheek. I believe Tony was his name. He said that during the quake he had wanted to run outside but couldn‘t because the floor was shaking heavily and the steps might have fallen down. He fell over while staggering out and must have fallen onto a nail or something sharp that tore a gash in his cheek. Tony’s cut looked quite deep so I got the first aid pack out of the plane and gave him an antiseptic cream hoping to at least keep the wound clean.”
There were reports of other injuries, but we have yet to see these people coming to seek help. People from many of the surrounding communities have run to where the ground is flatter, and that is where the airstrip is located. It takes them around 30 minutes walking, coming for their own safety and also hoping to receive some relief goods such as tarpaulins, water or rice. Luke sees their needs: “I feel sorry for them; I just want to help. I see not only the houses that have collapsed and the injuries for which many need assistance, but also the gardens that are breaking up and people’s food sources for tomorrow becoming uncertain.”
To support MAF’s Emergency Relief efforts please donate here: https://maf.org.au/png-earthquake/
Earthquake Response – Papua New Guinea: As of 7th March CLICK HERE
Earthquake Response – Papua New Guinea: As of 6th March CLICK HERE
Earthquake Response – Papua New Guinea: As of 1st March CLICK HERE