30 Mar 2018

PNG MPs say Western Province overlooked for earthquake relief

From , 4:03 pm on 30 March 2018

MPs from Papua New Guinea's Western Province say their earthquake affected constituents have been overlooked in the distribution of disaster relief.

They say about 30,000 people in the province have been affected, through the loss of homes and the pollution of waterways and are in desperate need of food, water and shelter.

The province is home to the Ok Tedi gold mine which donated 50 million Kina, or $US15 million, to relief efforts.

However the South Fly MP, Sekie Agisa, says the government spent most of it in neighbouring provinces.

He told Ben Robinson Drawbridge he suspects the Porgera gold mine polluted the Strickland and Fly Rivers during the quakes.

PNG communities at risk of flooding following damning rivers by landslides triggered by 7.5 magnitude earthquake.

Photo: Barbara Lokes/OilSearchLtd