India, students and church body help victims

The National National
Indian High Commissioner Inbasekar Sundaramurthi (left) with Defence Minister Dr Billy Joseph in Port Moresby on Friday. – Picture supplied

By MAJELEEN YANEI and HANNAH NERO
THE Indian High Commission on Friday donated K3.7 million worth of aid to help the Mulitaka (Enga) landslide-stricken people.
High Commissioner Inbasekar Sundaramurthi said the aid contained milk-powder, baby food, medical supplies, tarpaulins and tents.
“It is not about money, it may not be much but it comes with a warm heart and we look forward to more bilateral cooperation with Papua New Guinea (PNG),” Sundaramurthi said.
Defence Minister Dr Billy Joseph thanked the Indian government for the partnership with PNG and for coming in at a time of need for the people affected by the May 24 landslide.
Foreign Affairs Minister Justin Tkatchenko said the supplies would be transported to Enga with assistance from other partners and Foreign Affairs, Emergency Disaster and Defence who would work with the Engan government to ensure all supplies get to those affected.
Enga administrator and disaster committee coordinator Sandis Tsaka, on behalf of Enga Governor Peter Ipatas, received the donation and acknowledged the support.
The Society of Daughters of Mary Immaculate (DMI) through its Help Humanitarian International (HHI) donated four pallets of goods to the landslide victims. Country representative for DMI-HHI PNG Association, Sr Catherine Devadass said: “The relief supplies include bags of rice, cartons of fruit juice, noodles, tea bags, sugar, cooking oil, biscuits, toiletries, laundry powder and bales of clothes will be distributed to the affected families and communities.
“The donations will be dropped off at Kasap Catholic Church in Laigap, Porgera.
The Enga Students’ Association (ESA) from the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) raised more than K10,000 for the victims.
Sports and logistics coordinator Alo Okas, speaking on behalf of the UPNG ESA president, said: “We have contributed and collected donations from other student associations in the school (UPNG) who have so graciously donated to us. We will ship the donations to Lae, where we will meet with ESA students from other tertiary institutions and hope to hand over donations to the victims of the landslide that has devastated Mulitaka,” he said.