On Monday, Papua New Guinea informed the United Nations that a devastating landslide had buried over 2,000 people in a remote village. The disaster, which occurred in the early hours of Friday morning, wiped out a hillside village in Enga province, burying homes and their sleeping occupants.
The landslide, triggered by a collapse of Mount Mungalo, caused widespread destruction to buildings, food gardens, and the country's economic lifeline. The main highway to Porgera Mine was completely blocked, hampering rescue efforts.
The disaster office described the situation as unstable, with the landslide continuing to shift slowly, posing a danger to rescue teams and survivors alike.
The scale of the catastrophe demanded immediate and collaborative action from all stakeholders, including the army, national, and regional responders.
Papua New Guinea called on the UN to inform its development partners and international allies of the situation and coordinate assistance through its disaster center.
Neighboring Australia and France, which has jurisdiction over the nearby Pacific island of New Caledonia, have expressed their readiness to assist Papua New Guinea.
The assistance would focus on providing immediate relief to survivors, supporting rescue efforts, and coordinating long-term recovery and rebuilding plans.
The international community stands ready to support Papua New Guinea in this time of need, providing humanitarian aid, technical expertise, and financial assistance to help the country overcome this tragedy and rebuild its affected communities.
