New Delhi: A massive landslide occurred on 24 May 2024 in Enga Province, Papua New Guinea which buried hundreds of people and caused major destruction and loss of life. India has come forward and offered immediate relief assistance of US$ 1million to Papua New Guinea. A press release was issued by Ministery of External Affairs about the same.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep condolences and conveyed India’s readiness to extend all possible support and assistance to the Pacific island country in its time of difficulty.
The release said, “As a close friend and partner under the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) and as a gesture of solidarity with the friendly people of Papua New Guinea, Government of India extends an immediate relief assistance of US$ 1 million to support relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts.”
It further read, “India has firmly stood by Papua New Guinea during times of difficulty and devastation caused by natural disasters, as in the wake of the earthquake in 2018 and volcanic eruptions in 2019 and 2023.”
“An important pillar of India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative (IPOI), announced by Prime Ministe Narendra Modi in November 2019, is Disaster Risk Reduction and Management. India is committed to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and continues to be a responsible and steadfast responder”, it concluded.
Landslide in Papua New Guniea
More than 2 thousand people are buried in the landslide that occurred in Kaoklam village of Papua New Guinea. According to news agency AFP, the government of Papua New Guinea itself has informed the United Nations (UN) about this.
According to Australian media ABC, the landslide occurred at about 3 a.m. local time on May 24 in the village of Enga province, about 600 kilometers from Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea. Landslides are still occurring continuously there for the last 4 days.
According to local police, a part of Mount Mungalo mountain in Kaokalam had collapsed, due to which debris fell into the village. He told that at that time the entire village was sleeping so they did not get a chance to escape.