PNG GOVERNMENT DONATES $4 MILLION TO RECOVERY

Environment Minister Bradley Tovosia receives disaster grant from PNG foreign minister as PM Lilo looks on. Photo credit: OPMC.

The Government of Papua New Guinea has today delivered 4 million dollars towards Solomon Islands recovery efforts following last month’s flash flood which killed at least 22 people.

The visiting PNG Foreign Minister Hon. Rimbink Pato delivered the assistance to the Minister of Environment Climate Change and Meteorology Hon. Bradley Tovosia in the presence of Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo in Honiara today.

Minister Pato conveyed PNG’s condolences to the Government and People of Solomon Islands for the loss of precious lives and property.

“The main reason I have come is to share the sorrow of the people of the Solomon Islands, to show our support in the grief and the loss to properties, infrastructure and the lives that have befallen, our true Melanesian brothers here in the Solomon Islands, our government has made a contribution of 4 million Solomon Island dollars that PNG 1 million Kina.”

The money will be used to assist the National Disaster Management Office, NDMO, in the ongoing recovery and rehabilitation process, particularly to provide relief, resettlement, infrastructure repair and other efforts.

The latest financial assistance was made in addition to an earlier donation of 200- Thousand delivered to the NDMO by the PNG High Commission Office in Honiara immediately after the April 3 floods.

Minister Tovosia thanked the PNG Government for the donation and applauded PNG’s decision to focus this donation on other areas in addition to immediate relief.