Humanitarian assistance to Papua New Guinea
Rt Hon Winston Peters
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister of
Foreign Affairs
5 March 2018
Humanitarian
assistance to Papua New Guinea
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says New Zealand will make an initial contribution of $500,000 to help with the emergency response following the 7.5 magnitude earthquake in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands region last Monday.
“The rugged
terrain and loss of communications in the area impacted
means it is taking time to build a complete picture of the
damage but we know that tens of thousands of people are
reported as requiring humanitarian assistance,” Mr Peters
says.
“New Zealand is working with Papua New Guinean
authorities, the United Nations, donors and aid agencies on
the ground to identify how New Zealand can best assist.”
he says.
A RNZAF C130 Hercules aircraft carrying
emergency relief supplies will depart for Port Moresby on
Monday morning carrying family hygiene kits, shelter kits,
jerry cans, and tarpaulins.
“Our thoughts are with
the Government and the people of Papua New Guinea as they
come to terms with the scale of this disaster,” Mr Peters
says.
“New Zealand stands ready to assist Papua New Guinea.”
ENDS