Page 19 - IB FEB 2018

Disaster

contributing AU$25,000 (US$19,975)
worth of humanitarian supplies.
The National Capital District Commis-
sion (NCDC) has set up an East Sepik
Relief Appeal Centre to support the dis-
placed islanders.
City Governor Powes Parkop and City
Manager Leslie Alu announced the relief
efforts of the Commission with a strong
appeal to the general public and business
houses in the city to contribute to relieve
the plight of the people of East Sepik.
The National Fisheries Authority also
donated K20,000 (US$15,976) towards
helping the islanders.
Meanwhile, the PNG Government on
22 January approved a further K2 million
(US$619,000) to help resettle the island-
ers at the care centre at Dandan, Turubu.
Government also announced the prepa-
The volcano on Kadovar spews ash, rocks and sulphur dioxide on 5 January. Photo: Sam Vulum ration of paper work for a new Kadovar
restoration authority bill to be tabled in
Flight for life the Rabaul Volcanological Observatory parliament in this month’s session.
The bill is to allow for the establish-
said in a bulletin.
Kadovar is one of the three Schouten ment of a restoration authority whose
primary function would be to identify
volcanic islands with the other two being
Aid flows Ruprup and Biem in East Sepik province. and acquire land for the resettlement of
displaced islanders including negotiating
On 22 January, it was reported that
Biem and Ruprup have subsided and with landowners; provide services and
for diplaced remained stable while five volcanic vents infrastructure for the resettlement area;
provide care centres and associated ser-
had opened up on Kadovar and activities
were expected to escalate on the island.
vices such as health care, education, food
International Red Cross reacted im-
islanders mediately by providing about K87,000 and safe water supply; liaising with donors
and international organisations to ensure
services to displaced persons are properly
(US$26,926) in funding to help them. The
PNG Government through Prime Minister coordinated and satisfy generally accept-
Peter O’Neill followed suit by committing able international standards; and ensuring
K150,000 (US$46,425) for disaster relief the human rights of displaced persons and
assistance. the members of the host communities are
About the same time Australia’s Foreign protected.
Minister Julie Bishop announced on Twit-
ter that the Australian Government was r vulumsam@gmail.com
By Sam Vulum
RELIEF assistance poured in to help re-
settled hundreds of displaced people at
a care centre after evacuation from their
island homes following the unprecedented
eruption of a dormant volcano off the
northern coast of Papua New Guinea
(PNG) in January.
Swift action by the Papua New Guinea
Defence Force, East Sepik provincial
government and administration enabled
the evacuation and relocation of the 691
islanders to the mainland.
The volcano on the island of Kadovar,
located about 24 km (15 miles) north of
the PNG mainland, began erupting on
5 January. After venting ash for several
days, the volcano exploded, blasting out
glowing red rocks and sulphur dioxide, The map shows Kadovar, located about 24 km north of the PNG mainland.

Islands Business, February 2018 19