ENB DISASTER COMMITTEE TO FOCUS ON 3 IDENTIFIED PRIORITIES

CAPTION: Disaster Committee Chairman Mr Levi Mano. INSET: Aftermath of Cyclone Maila that hit ENB early this month.

BY WASITA ROYAL

As East New Britain grapples with the aftermath of a recent major disaster, the province finds itself balancing urgent humanitarian needs against mounting financial pressure.

The Provincial Disaster Committee has revealed its three-pronged recovery strategy, as the provincial government continues its relief operation programs to distribute supplies to affected areas.

Disaster Committee Chairman Mr Levi Mano announced three major relief priorities for communities that were hit by the recent disaster; removing debris from major trunk roads across the Gazelle Peninsula, relief operations and distribution of relieve supplies to 94 identified sites across the province, and the third and final priority is recovery, which Mr Mano described as a long term response that has not yet begun.

Mr Mano explained, recovery efforts, will depend on assessment reports and approval from the National Disaster Centre.

The provincial disaster report is already on its way to the Minister responsible for disaster management, which will help determine recovery efforts that may begin in the coming months.

Meanwhile, the Committee has confirmed that they have not received the K5 million Central government funding allocation that is pending financial instructions and release.

Mr Mano confirmed the National Government announced funding support for six provinces including East New Britain and stated that while the province will receive that funding, it will also depend on normal processes under the Financial Management Act as to when the funds are released.

For now, provincial funds and emergency credit lines are sustaining operations, as the Disaster Committee Chairman Mr Levi Mano stated in a press conference last week.

Mr Mano revealed that all goods and supplies for the ongoing relief assistance have been procured on credit from selected companies based in Kokopo and Rabaul.

He explained that the committee is using funds from the provincial government and its own budget, done through normal mobilisation of funding within the administration and in accordance with the Financial Management Act.

He said a full report would be released once all credit purchases are settled, outlining how much the provincial government spent on the entire operation.

Mr Mano also commended organisations in East New Britain that have supported relief operations following Tropical Cyclone Maila.