Road, trucks bring relief to Middle Fly communities

For years, mothers carrying garden produce and sick family members from remote parts of Middle Fly faced grueling, multi-day river journeys just to reach basic services in Kiunga.

That long-standing struggle is finally easing for hundreds of villagers following the opening of the upgraded Kiunga-Aiambak road and the presentation of two new service vehicles to local health and administrative officers.

Western province governor Taboi Awi Yoto delivered the Isuzu Dyna vehicles to the Lake Murray and Kiunga rural local level governments [LLGs] to support frontline workers serving outlying areas.

For locals in Kukujaba, Membok, Karemko, Yulawas, and Moian, the new road cuts a trip that once took days along unpredictable waterways down to just a few hours by land.

Local mother and vendor Mary Karemko said the direct road link means fresh produce can finally reach local markets before spoiling.

“Before, we had to sleep on riverbanks and spend heavily on outboard motor fuel just to get our garden food to Kiunga,” she said. “Now our families can travel safely, sell our crops, and return home the same day.”

Governor Yoto said the infrastructure investment was targeted directly at lifting the daily burden on rural families.

“This makes the movement of people, goods, and essential services much faster,” Yoto said. “These vehicles will give our people direct access to markets, medical services, and a better future.”

Leaders in the neighboring Fly Zibo LLG are expected to receive their allocated vehicle as soon as river levels rise to allow shipment, extending relief to even more remote pockets of the district.