UN Pledges Continued Support for Safe Relocation and Well-being of Displaced Persons - June 2024
10 June 2024
Port Moresby, 10 June 2024: Exactly two weeks after the devastating landslide at Yambali village in the Lagaip-Porgera District, Enga Province, the Enga Provincial Disaster Committee last Friday, on 6 June, issued a declaration of cessastion of search and recovery operations. Also, on the same day, a declaration was issued for mass evacuation, stating that all individuals within the identified at-risk areas in the LLG wards of Yambali, Kuandak, and Yuyuan in the Maip Multika LLG must relocate to designated safe sites, following a recommendation of a preliminary report from New Zealand Geotech engineers.
The 24 May landslide disaster has affected approximately 7,900 individuals from 1,427 households, with 1,650 individuals from 315 households displaced.
The Enga Provincial Administration, led by Provincial Administrator Mr. Sandis Tsaka, has established a centralized Operations Centre in Wabag, with an onsite operations arm near the disaster site to effectively coordinate relief efforts.
The United Nations will continue to support the Government of Papua New Guinea and the Enga Provincial authorities in ensuring the safety and well-being of internally displaced persons (IDPs) throughout all phases of displacement, including relocation where return-to-areas-of-origin is not feasible.
The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Papua New Guinea, Mr Richard Howard, said “The UN believes that a well-coordinated and facilitated relocation will enable a people-centered, inclusive, and participatory process. This approach will recognize and protect the traditional knowledge of affected communities, ensuring all affected populations and host communities can improve or maintain their living standards and opportunities while mitigating the adverse impacts of relocation."
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