In response to Papua New Guinea’s disastrous flood and landslip, which have killed 2,000 people so far, the Indian government has donated $1 million as emergency aid.
India has decided to offer immediate relief assistance worth $1 million to Papua New Guinea in the wake of a devastating landslide hitting the country last Friday, said a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The relief assistance aims to support relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction efforts in Papua New Guinea following the tragic event that occurred on May 24, 2024.
Deeply grieved by the deaths and destruction caused by the terrible landslide in Papua New Guinea, PM Narendra Modi stated in a post on X. We send our sincere condolences to the families impacted and hope the injured people heal quickly. India is prepared to provide any and all help and support.
The massive landslide, which struck on May 24 has already buried over 2,000 people, as per government, a much higher tally than the initial estimates provided by the UN which reported over 670 possible deaths. The disaster on May 24 struck six remote villages in the Maip-Mulitaka area of Enga province while most residents were asleep. More than 150 houses were submerged under debris.
The South Pacific island nation of Papua New Guinea’s government reports that over 2,000 people are thought to have perished in a landslide that occurred in the early hours of Friday morning while the community of Yambali was asleep.
Search and rescue operations are hazardous and difficult due to the settlement’s location in a remote and unstable area in the interior of the impoverished rural nation off the northern coast of Australia.
India has consistently stood by Papua New Guinea during times of difficulty caused by natural disasters, including earthquakes in 2018 and volcanic eruptions in 2019 and 2023.
International aid has begun to arrive, with Australia announcing an initial A$2.5 million ($1.66 million) aid package and China also pledging assistance.
The United States and Australia, a near neighbor and Papua New Guinea’s most generous provider of foreign aid, are among governments that have publicly stated their readiness to do more to help responders.
Papua New Guinea is a diverse, developing nation with 800 languages and 10 million people who are mostly subsistence farmers.
India has diplomatic relations with Papua New Guinea, and the two countries have a long history of cooperation. India has been actively engaging with Papua New Guinea in various fields, including trade, investment, and cultural exchanges. In recent years, India has also been providing assistance to Papua New Guinea in areas such as healthcare, education, and disaster relief.