A major exercise to bring relief to the victims of flooding across Oro Province in Papua New Guinea is now well underway.
Much of the province was engulfed by flood waters two weeks ago leaving up to 200 people dead and thousands homeless.
The Australian High Commisssioner to PNG, Chris Moraitis, says the Australian Air Force has been ferrying in food and other supplies over the weekend to the main airport at Girua near the provincial capital Popondetta.
They have been using Hercules and smaller Caribou aircraft, and as of this morning have been joined by RAAF Blackhawk helicopters.
"So that is obviously a big help, with the helicopters. Obviously the Caribou did the best they could. They have been focussing on getting aid to some of the smaller towns where there are airstrips, like Kokoda, the famous Kokoda township, Tufi, as well as Itogama, and they have been trying to deliver assistance as best they can to those parts, but with the Blackhawks, as I said, that will improve the process much more."
