The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) mobilized to respond to the devastation caused by a massive landslide in Papua New Guinea on May 24. The landslide, which occurred in the early morning hours, left behind a trail of destruction and impacted the lives of thousands of people in the affected communities.
According to local officials, the landslide awoke people before dawn, burying up to 600 people and displacing more than 7,000. The Papua New Guinea government declared a state of emergency following the tragedy.
“ADRA’s country office in Papua New Guinea has deployed emergency response personnel to the disaster area and is assessing the situation to determine the humanitarian needs arising from the catastrophe,” Elizabeth Tomenko, ADRA’s senior emergency program manager, said. “There are logistical challenges due to the nature of the crisis. Still, we are working closely with the government’s disaster management office, other humanitarian organizations, and the Adventist Church to ensure our humanitarian assistance reaches the most affected communities.“
Through a comprehensive needs assessment, ADRA has actively identified humanitarian aid priorities, including immediate evacuation of disaster areas, health and environmental risks, and emergency medical care, funeral services, and public health concerns. ADRA is also helping to address the shortage of temporary shelters and care centers for displaced people and essential emergency food, water, and Non-Food Items (NFIs) needs.
Response Activities
ADRA has coordinated efforts with Adventist Church volunteers and trusted partners and has delivered essential food and non-food items to affected communities. Now it also plans to implement humanitarian aid to effectively meet humanitarian requirements and support recovery efforts. ADRA’s activities include continuing to supply food and non-food items to help affected populations meet their basic needs and enhancing public health and hygiene through water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) initiatives.
For more than 30 years, ADRA has carried out development and relief operations in Papua New Guinea. The global agency remains committed to its mission of fostering resilience and facilitating recovery efforts in areas devastated by this most recent natural disaster.
About ADRA
The Adventist Development and Relief Agency is the international humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church serving in 118 countries. Its work empowers communities and changes lives around the globe by providing sustainable community development and disaster relief. ADRA’s purpose is to serve humanity so all may live as God intended.
The original version of this story was posted by ADRA International.
