Published at 6:00 pm
Speaking to Post Courier yesterday, North Fly’s Nomad Primary school headmaster Mr Noah Dustin said that the people living along rivers and tributaries were still suffering from the ill effects that were wrought in the aftermath of the May 27 quake.
Mr Dustin said that emergency response efforts from the emergency controller Dr William Hamblin and his team are most appreciated and commendable but brought out the fact that there was still a dire need for access to clean water and food.
“The disaster is a natural event and we cannot blame any human or entity for the negative effects it is having on communities.
“I am only bring to your attention the needs we still have because I feel that our needs are being overlooked somewhat as bureaucrats sweep our needs under the APEC rug,” the headmaster said.
He said that many of his students have stopped attending classes because they need to help rebuild gardens and hunt in the deeper parts of the forest to find an alternative source of protein apart from fish.
“Although fish can now be caught, they are scarce and most families still go without fish or protein for weeks,” said Mr Dustin.
Emergency controller Dr Hamblin said last week that restarter kits have been sent out to affected areas and that sixty one water tanks are in the process of being sent to certain parts of Western Province to ease the water woes.
Dr Hamblin said that so far, 56 metric tons of rice, 22 metric tons of canned tuna, corned beef, noodles, flour, assorted cases of cooking oil and salt and 20 cases of water have been dispatched to the main stations of Western Province like Nomad.
Mr Dustin said villagers have adapted to the circumstances and accepted that the mud contaminated water is not likely to clear up for another few months.