Operational challenges hinder effective, timely responses in Papua New Guinea landslide: UN

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - The UN migration agency Friday drew attention to the present operational challenges in landslide-hit Papua New Guinea, saying there are fuel shortages and security issues.

"A lot of support is pouring in, and we are really grateful for this, but operational challenges remain," Serhan Aktoprak, IOM chief of mission in the country, told a UN press briefing in Geneva via video link.

"There are fuel shortages and security issues," Aktoprak said, adding that organizational capacity needs to be established and maintained throughout in order to "ensure efficient, effective and timely responses."

He urged the UN and its partners to make a "greater contribution" to the collective efforts.

Regarding the security issues caused by ongoing tribal conflict, he noted that the conflict is not related to the landslide, however, it leads to "a little bit of time loss" as extra precautions are taken for the convoy's securities.

No attacks had been recorded on the UN and humanitarian convoy yet, he said, adding: "But of course, it is always a risk and we have to be very cautious."

Richard Howard, the UN resident coordinator in Papua New Guinea, for his part, said that only seven bodies have been recovered so far, and uncertainty over the "high" number of victims remains.

There is a "solid estimate" of the total number of people affected by the landslide, which is 7,849, he said, adding that an estimated 42% of the affected population is under 16 years.

A total of 1,650 people had been displaced, and 150 structures are estimated to have been buried, according to the resident coordinator.

Meanwhile, Howard said, a geotechnical team from New Zealand has arrived in the country and will start surveying the terrain on Saturday.

The landslide occurred at around 3:00 a.m. (1700GMT) local time on Monday, burying homes, infrastructure and farmland under up to eight meters of soil and debris, according to IOM.

The recovery efforts are continuing.