Oro Province PNG , the Almost Forgotten Disaster.
This disaster missed the headlines in November 2007 but Cyclone Guba didn’t miss the Oro Province in PNG —it wrecked considerable damage on the population, infrastructure, native gardens and water supplies. Some 200 people were lost in the flooding and tidal surges . Schools and community buildings have been destroyed ; as a consequence schooling has stopped in many areas
Bridges destroyed Kumusi River Bridge missing
And another
Villages were inundated and made un-inhabitable
Devastation on the Kumusi River , during the flood the Kumusi River became 10 times wider than normal, wiping out many villages
Beama village covered in debris
from the flooding and tidal surges
Once a clean flowing creek now a A free flowing creek but badly polluted
stagnate polluted pool
Supplies of clean water from flowing creeks have become polluted and ceased to exist — old water tanks were washed away or rendered useless, but worst still, old army dumps from WWII had been uncovered and are leaching toxic waste into the rivers and creeks Villagers are collecting rain water in pots or whatever is available.
Acute diarrhea is prevalent, while cases of dysentery and cholera have been reported -
Clean water for drinking and cooking water is urgently required.
The Story so far
In 2008, the District 9750 RAWCS Committee set up a matching grant to commence the Oro Water Tanks project to provide some 60 water tanks over three phases . With donations from the Rotary Clubs of Camden , Corrimal, Engadine, Fairy Meadow , Kiama , Kings Cross, Minnamurra and Sutherland and DDF ( Share ) from the District Grants Committee, the RAWCS Oro Water Tanks Committee secured a matching grant from The Rotary Foundation ( MG69855 ).This gave the committee sufficient funds to provide 18 tanks to 14 villages.
Being a matching grant project, we needed to secure a host club in the field - This was admirably filled by the Rotary Club of Goroka, with supervision of the project in the Oro province was undertaken by Surrogan Bishop Denys Ririka of the Anglican Church, (there being no Rotary Club in Oro province). Bishop Ririka had initially surveyed the damage immediately after the Cyclone and provided extensive reports on what was required.
The tanks were transported by coaster from Lae to Oro Bay where they were uncrated and distributed by a team of Village Volunteers. The villagers were required to set up the new bases and arrange guttering and downpipes. This imposed a level of responsibility and ownership on the Villagers.
Below are some photos from the recently completed Phase I.
The tanks were unpacked from their pallets &
freight packages at Oro Bay
Ladders are handy when it comes to transport the tanks
Most villages were only accessible by boat and involved crossing
some very wide rivers
Off- loading a tank at its destination
Just up the beach a bit more and around the corner
A very satisfied customer
now connected to clean rain
water .
Where there's a will there's a way
And very happier family with clean safe water at hand
What's Next
This is a three phase project, originally assessed to involve some 60 villages in Oro province affected by Cyclone Guba. The next phase ( two ) will involve some 12 villages around the Gona area just north of those villages completed under Phase 1 .
It is critical that we complete this project to ensure a major improvement in the health of the people of the Oro Province.
Please send your donations by cheque marked
" Rotary District 9750 Oro Water tanks project" to
the District Treasurer, Rotary District 9750 , P.O. Box 970, Parramatta 2124.
Every donation , no matter how small, will help to provide clean safe water that we take for granted.
For any queries or additional information please contact the following Committee members by email as follows Glen Beauchamp < GBea0414@bigpond.net.au or Graham Morphett< gc@tpg.com.au
Please pass on the webpage details to your friends
This is a temporary site until the full RAWCS site is completed.