Kadovar Islanders relocation priority : Isifu

By Frederick JOSEPH (UPNG Journalism Trainee)| PNGFM

The Government Treasury has approved K2million that will go into the National Disaster Office, for the management of the volcano as well as the displaced people.

Minister for Inter-Government Relations, Kevin Isifu, confirmed this at the launching of the Kadovar Volcanic Disaster Appeal at Murray Barracks recently.

Apart from this, the Minister will be announcing his permanent relocation policy for the people of Kadovar and Ruprup Island.

An estimated K300, 000 is budgeted to pay the landowners to acquire the land for the permanent relocation program.

Minister Isifu adds the land is about 30-40 hectares, which will be used for the relocation of the Kadovar and Ruprup people.

However, relief supplies for the people affected by the volcanic eruption have reached the shores of Kadovar, with the team from the Rabaul Observatory on site and monitoring the volcanic activities.

Meantime, Director of the National Disaster Office, Martin Mose says the Volcano has been seen as one that was well managed, in terms of disaster risk management.

He added that the approach used to manage the Kadovar Volcanic Eruption is one that can be used as a model for other disaster risk management in PNG.

With Murray Barracks been the centre for appeal, a bank account was also opened in Wewak for the appeal and announced for the people to help in cash or kind towards our displaced people of the Kadovar Island.

Isifu has also urged the Sepik communities around Port Moresby and Papua new Guineans in general to help our people in Kadovar.