Eastern Highlands Governor, Hon. Simon Sia, has allocated K100,000 in El Niño relief funding to each of the province's 25 Local Level Governments (LLGs).

The LLG presidents have been tasked with overseeing the distribution of relief supplies in an effort to accelerate the province's response to the El Niño crisis and ensure assistance reaches affected residents directly at the ward level.

Last month, the Eastern Highlands Provincial Executive Council (PEC), chaired by Governor Sia, approved K2.5 million to assist communities enduring the prolonged dry spell. The funds have been paid directly to suppliers, allowing LLG presidents to collect food rations and distribute them within their respective areas.

Governor Sia explained that this decentralised approach ensures relief supplies are not held up in Goroka or stalled by bureaucracy but instead go straight to local leaders who understand the immediate needs of their communities.

“We want the relief to reach the families who are really feeling the dry spell — the mothers, the elderly, and the children in the villages. The presidents are on the ground; they know their wards,” Governor Sia said.

Meanwhile, Governor Sia has appealed to the eight District MPs of Eastern Highlands Province to partner with their local LLG presidents by topping up the provincial allocation to further support struggling families.

He emphasised that the scale of the El Niño crisis is beyond the capacity of a single tier of government and requires a coordinated effort across provincial, district, and LLG leadership.

“K100,000 per LLG is a start, but our people need more. I am calling on our eight District MPs to stand with their presidents and add to this support, so no family goes hungry during this dry period,” he urged.

The Eastern Highlands Provincial Government has assured residents that the distribution of relief supplies through the LLG presidents will commence immediately, with strict transparency and accountability expected at every stage of the rollout.