The Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) has announced that it would donate K200,000.00 worth of relief supplies to the people of Yambale Village who have been affected by the landslide.
Yambale village in the Maip-Mulitaka Rural Local Level Government in the Porgera-Paiela electorate, was affected out by landslide on May 24, 2024.
The MRA has already procured the supplies from a wholesale shop in Wabag, and will transport them (supplies) early next week to the disaster site, in collaboration with the Enga Provincial Disaster Committee.
The goods include 600 bags of rice, 400 cartons of tinned fish, 400 cartons of noodles, 200 bales of sugar, and 200 bottles of cooking oil among other basic goods.
A team of MRA officers led by the Project Coordinator for the Porgera Mining Project, Joe Kak Ryangao, went to Yambale village where he made the announcement and presented some of the goods. The announcement coincided with the visit to the village by the Prime Minister Hon James Marape, where he also announced the National Government's assistance of K20 million. The PM was accompanied by the Governor for the Enga Province, Hon Sir Peter IPatas and other regional leaders, who also made financial commitments towards helping the affected villages.
Mr Ryangao on behalf of the Managing Director of the MRA, Jerry Garry, conveyed the MRA's condolences to the families of the victims of the natural disaster. He said the Porgera- Paiela electorate is host to the giant Porgera mine, which is one of the government's priority projects. He said because of the mine, MRA officers frequently travel the highway, passing by Yambale village.
He said: “To see the very village that MRA officers pass by every other week completely wiped out in such a tragic manner was devastating.”
Mr Ryangao said the assistance was part of the MRA's Corporate Social Responsibility.
Meanwhile, Ward Councilor for Mulitaka Mangalo Jaman Yandam, so far eight bodies had been recovered from the rubble at the time of the presentation, with hundreds still missing.
