Relief supplies reach North Fly as dry spell worsens

Families in remote areas of North Fly District in Western Province cut off by falling river levels are set to receive essential food and water supplies, after the first consignment of humanitarian relief landed in Tabubil yesterday.

The supplies, flown in from Port Moresby, mark the beginning of a coordinated humanitarian relief operation involving air, sea and river transport to reach villages where gardens have failed and water sources are drying up.

Western Province has been one of the hardest hits by the prolonged dry spell, with communities reporting critical shortages.

Today's flight, operated by the Royal Australian Air Force, is the first of four planned sorties. The initial load of two tons will help the disaster response team on the ground finalize distribution plans.

More bulk supplies are being mobilized by barge. At Port Moresby's Kennedy and Oyster Bay ports, a combined 240 tons of humanitarian relief supplies are being dispatched for shipment to Tabubil and Aiambak - from where they will be moved upriver to affected communities.

The humanitarian operation is being coordinated by the North Fly Disaster Response Team together with the Papua New Guinea Sustainable Development Program and Ok Tedi Mining Limited, who have come on board to support the humanitarian response.

Officials coordinating the relief operation say further distribution of relief assistance will continue in phases as access routes are confirmed.