Prime Minister James Marape visited the landslide-affected Maip-Mulitaka area of Porgera-Paiela District in Enga on Friday May 31st, offering K20 million in immediate disaster relief to the Enga Provincial Government. “Although I may be late, the government, through relevant departments and agencies like National Disaster Centre and PNG Defence Force, acted promptly in attending to the disaster,” he said when he met and talked those affected by the May 24 disaster. Accompanied by Enga Governor Sir Peter Ipatas, Defence Minister Billy Joseph, and Hela Governor Philip Undialu, Marape met and talked with people affected by the devastating landslide, which claimed an estimated 670 lives and displaced over 7, 800 people. The Prime Minister extended heartfelt condolences and assured continued government support, emphasizing the importance of relief, restoration, and reconstruction. “I express my heartfelt sorrow to the people of Maip-Mulitaka who lost loved ones in the disaster.” Contributions from the Hela and Southern Highlands provincial governments and ICTSI South Pacific further boosted the relief efforts. Prime Minister Marape expressed gratitude to the international terminal operator ICTSI South Pacific for its K1 million support. He also praised the swift response of local and international partners, assuring the affected communities that they are not alone in this difficult time. “I thank the Enga Provincial Government of Governor Sir Peter and Provincial Administration of Sandis Tsaka, who, even if the landslide had occurred at 3am on Friday, responded immediately and by 8am, disaster work was already in progress.” “I also thank, on behalf of the affected people and the country, all the global friends of Papua New Guinea for their kind words and support.” “I thank our partner countries including Australia, New Zealand, USA, Japan, China, United Kingdom, Indonesia, France, Israel, South Korea, Phillipines, Malaysia, Singapore, India, Czech Republic and many others, United Nations, International Organisation for Migration and Pacific Islands Forum for responding very quickly to the disaster.” “I assure the people of Maip-Mulitaka, Porgera-Paiela, Enga, and Papua New Guinea that you are not alone in this difficult time.” Prime Minister Marape assured the people of Maip-Mulitaka that the national government would work with the Enga Provincial Government in continuing relief and restoration work. “Our focus should now be on relief, restoration, and reconstruction into the future.” “We will respect and follow whatever long-term plans of the Enga Provincial Government.”