The East New Britain provincial appeal drive for donations towards the affected people of Maip Muritaka rural LLG in Enga Province, ends Saturday, July 13th. The appeal drive has been running for two weeks, and on Monday, July 6th, an official fundraising drive was also launched by ENB Deputy Provincial Administrator for District and LLG Services Nicholas Larme was accompanied by the Director of the Provincial Disaster Division Donald Tokunai at the local NBC East New Britain radio station in Kokopo. They urged the public in ENB to donate non-food items at the ENB Provincial Administration’s Disaster Division in Kokopo. On Saturday, July 13th , all the donations will be sorted out and sent over to the communities that are affected by the massive landslide that occurred in Enga Province. According to the Red Cross organization on ground, the number of deaths, and casualties, among other pertinent details, are still yet to be confirmed in what is being known as one of the largest and most devastating disasters in the country, which occurred on May 24, at 3:00 a.m. when a landslide struck Yambali village in the Maip Muritaka LLG of Lagaip-Porgera District. The landslide covered 2 communities and 6 villages, including a school, health facility, water sources, and houses, with mud and rocks. An estimated 7,849 people were affected, with 1,650 people displaced, with local authorities still working on relocation efforts, as more humanitarian aid continues to pour in from bilateral countries, and both local and global organisations. The main highway was blocked, cutting off access to food supplies and essential services. The district is also home to the country’s largest gold mine operations, As for the appeal drive in East New Britain, both Mr Larme and Mr Tokunai stated that given East New Britain is a disaster-prone province with the volcano and other minor natural calamities, it is only fitting that it’s government and people continue to support other fellow country men and women affected by tragedy. Mr. Larme said that the province received a lot of assistance from organizations, provinces and individuals during the 1994 volcanic eruptions that devastated the province, and therefore it is time to give back to those in need. “We are part of a global community, so we must support each other.” “The ENB Provincial government and administration will assist the group at the PNG University of Natural Resources and Environment (UNRE) to bring their donations over, and likewise, the donations received at the Disaster office,” he said. Mr. Tokunai added that the appeal drive is for non-food items such as clothing and kitchen utensils, which can be still be dropped off at the Disaster office at the Kokopo Fire Station. “We have received a number of items this week and officers are there to assist anyone that comes in with their donations.”