Papua New Guinea disaster officials have been urged to provide immediate assistance to over 5-thousand people in parts of Morobe province badly affected by recent floods.
Morobe Provincial Police Commander, Giossi Labi, made the call after an inspection by police officers at the Bukawa area, where nearly 3-thousand people are reported to be suffering as a result of the floods which destroyed their food gardens.
The worst hit are the villages of Mundala, Bukawa, Waganlugu and Ulugidu.
More than 2-thousand people in the Salamaua and Burum-kuat districts have also been hit.
Mr Labi has confirmed Salvation Army reports that two children died in the floods.
He has strongly appealed to the National Disaster and Emergency Services and the Provincial Disaster Services to provide immediate relief supplies before more lives are lost.
Mr Labi says clean drinking water is in short supply.
Meanwhile the Salvation Army has allocated over 15-thousand US dollars towards relief services for the flood victims and is planning to open an appeal account.
