Flood & Earthquake Crisis in East Sepik Province
Remote villages of East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, are reeling from the impact of a double disaster - high floods last week were followed by an earthquake on Sunday morning.
Volunteers from Living Child Inc., a not-for-profit organisation supporting maternal and infant health in the province, were travelling in the area in partnership with East Sepik Provincial Health Authority, to conduct an audit of health centres, distribute clean birth kits and provide training to volunteer birth attendants, when the flood began. This region is often referred to as the ‘second Amazon,’ due to its remote nature and lack of infrastructure which present significant barriers to travel.
The Living Child/East Sepik Provincial Health team were in the vicinity of Ambunti when the earthquake struck early on Sunday morning. The houses in this area shook and water tanks were destroyed, leaving the community without a source of clean drinking water. As the team travelled back up the river, trees fell into the water. The team distributed clean birth kits and menstrual hygiene kits to villages along the river – a 9 hour boat journey upstream from Ambunti. These kits ensure that that any women who are pregnant will be able to give birth as safely as possible in the circumstances, and that women and girls who get their period will be able to manage this hygienically.
Living Child Inc. are partnering with the East Sepik Provincial Health Authorities to support sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health during this State of Emergency. Local sources within our network have shared that there is an immediate need for food and clean drinking water, since vegetable gardens and water tanks have been destroyed. There are no toilets available and the number of malaria, whooping cough and diarrhoea cases are continuing to rise. Three children in the Keram Grass area have died, aged 8, 9 and 12.
Emergency funds are required for a Living Child midwife who specialises in disaster response to travel to the area and support local health leaders and emergency teams, and for the provision of essential supplies, including food, canvases for shelter, WASH supplies, clean birth kits, menstrual hygiene kits, and fuel for transportation.
Please help us to ensure sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health care continues to be provided during this crisis.
Organizer
Hannah Stapleton
Organizer
Bentley DC, WA
Living Child Inc
Beneficiary