Australia and New Zealand extend assistance to Papua New Guinea.

Slide of Land - Australia and New Zealand extend assistance to Papua New Guinea.

The nations of Australia and New Zealand have vowed to provide millions in aid for the region in Papua New Guinea that recently suffered a catastrophic landslide in the highland province of Enga. The incident is estimated to have affected at least 2,000 residents who are thought to have been entombed beneath the debris.

In response, Australia has committed to providing Papua New Guinea with AUD 2.5 million (EUR 1.5 million) in humanitarian assistance, while New Zealand has pledged NZD 1.5 million (EUR 850,000).

Australian Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles took to Twitter to express his condolences, stating, "As a neighbor and friend, we will do everything we can to offer support." The Australian military has since collaborated closely with their Papua New Guinean counterparts in coordinating the relief efforts.

Despite the best efforts of rescuers, including the Australian military, the area remains challenging to access. The rescue operation is made even more perilous by the continued movement of the ground. Approximately 8,000 people in the vicinity urgently require evacuation due to the threat of additional landslides.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) expert, Máte Bagossy, described the situation to the BBC, noting that the region is still tough to navigate. He also urged for the immediate evacuation of 8,000 individuals as another landslide is looming.

In heart-wrenching video footage, distraught villagers covered their faces with a yellow paste created from mud - a symbol of mourning in certain parts of Papua New Guinea. Evit Kambu, a resident of the village, told the BBC that 18 members of her family perished in the incident, along with several other acquaintances. She expressed a sense of helplessness over the situation. People used their hands and shovels to dig through the mud, but these efforts often turned out to be futile. Only a few victims have been extracted so far.

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1. The emergency situation in the Enga province of Papua New Guinea, triggered by a landslide, has necessitated the activation of disaster response mechanisms within the country and international assistance from neighbors Australia and New Zealand.
2. In a turn of events, the disaster area in Papua New Guinea has been classified as a potential emergency situation by Australian and New Zealand meteorologists, due to the looming threat of weather-related events, such as storms.
3. The Australian and New Zealand governments have warned their citizens planning to travel to Papua New Guinea to exercise extreme caution, as the region remains under severe weather advisories and threat of storms.
4. The Australian Minister for Defense and Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles, has urged all Australians living in or visiting Papua New Guinea to closely monitor weather updates and be prepared for potential evacuations in the event of emergencies or landslides.
5. As a result of the weather warnings, millions of tourists from Australia and New Zealand who had planned trips to Papua New Guinea's capital, Port Moresby, have reconsidered their travel plans, in light of the potential dangers associated with the climate.
6. In light of the ongoing emergencies, New Zealand has dispatched a team of experts to the disaster area in Papua New Guinea to analyze potential risks and provide recommendations for protecting both locals and foreign travelers in the event of further landslides or storms in the region.

Source: www.stern.de