'They don't care' - Enga landslide survivors accuse PNG government of stalling recovery efforts
By
ABC Pacific
Locals dig during search and rescue efforts at the site of a landslide at Yambali village in the region of Maip Mulitaka in Papua New Guinea's Enga Province on 30 May 2024. (file image)
Photo:
AFP / Emmanuel Eralia
More than a year since the landslide at Mulitaka in Papua New Guinea's Enga Province left hundreds dead, many survivors are frustrated with authorities over the state of recovery.
One community leader Andrew Ruing says the government hasn't lived up to its pledges such as the rebuilding of homes. He says government relief and resettlement efforts to the impacted villages of Yambali and Kaokalam appear to be in a state of abandonment.
"They're not honouring their promises, the government is failing us big time," said Mr Ruing.
Andrew Ruing was in Mulitaka when the landslide struck, and was among those digging through the rubble to rescue the buried. He says many bodies still haven't been recovered and former residents are either living in tents or evacuated to other areas.
"There's no recovery," he said.
"Bodies are still buried, there are no houses, no food gardens. everything has been destroyed…people are scattered everywhere," he added.
One survivor, Wamblip Junior shares that frustration. He lost two children in the disaster, and says he feels abandoned. He says that people want to return to their villages but are waiting for the government to rebuild houses.
"They don't care," he said.
"We are still living tents, there's no work, we need services like schools and offices.
"It's too much...we are still in need of help."
A community leader in Mulitaka, Willie Ipuia, blames poor organisation and leadership. He says a chairman is yet to be appointed to lead a Mulitaka resettlement authority and organise the overall recovery.
In addition to this, Mr Ipuia alleges that foreign donor money meant to finance the recovery is not being used, and many in the community believe its being lost to corruption.
"We are not satisfied, because most of the money that was donated to us by foreign donors for the recovery was kept in a trust by the government, approximately around 200 million kina," he said
"We are yet to get financial reports from the provincial government of Enga as to how they have used some of the money donated," said Mr Ipuia.
"There is disappointment in the national government for delaying the appointment of a chairman to the resettlement authority."
Red Cross official Samuel Bariasi says Mulitaka is just one of many areas in Papua New Guinea where help is needed.
He says for the Red Cross, limited resources, the remoteness of communities and tribal violence are making humanitarian efforts a challenge.
"Sometimes it costs a lot to move emergency relief items from one location to another because most of assistance needs to be imported from other countries and then shipped to the affected areas," said Mr Bariasi.
"Rural remoteness and tribal violence that is present in the affected communities is a real challenge," he added.
ABC Pacific has reached out to the Papua New Guinea government for comment.
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