Church Supports Relief Efforts After Papua New Guinean Natural Disasters

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Torrential rains swept through Papua New Guinea, causing heavy flooding and landslides, compounded by a severe 6.9 earthquake on 24 March 2024. This affected nearly 70 villages and destroyed more than 1,000 homes along the Sepik River.

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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is doing its part to relieve the suffering in Papua New Guinea.

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One of five killed in the landslides was Nickson Sangi, a member of the Koningi congregation.

Other challenges have been contaminated drinking water, blocked roads, and bridge damage. Many were displaced from homes and services. There was an immediate need for iron roofing materials.

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Demonstrating the resilience of Papua New Guineans, members of the Yombai community were temporarily separated from their food gardens when the floods damaged a footbridge, their only access. The community has since repaired the footbridge. Paul Reid, Pacific Area Welfare Manager of The Church, called residents “impressively self-reliant.”

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Elder Robert Gordon, a regional church leader, convened an emergency response committee over the Goroka and Sepik River Districts of the Church.

He said, “It’s great to see how quickly and efficiently all are involved to get this on the ground and in the remote areas of Papua New Guinea.”

President Barney Ambuia, a Latter-day Saint leader in the Sepik River District, was stuck for two days between Pinang and Moim while assessing the damage with local church leaders. With intermittent Internet access, mobile calls were difficult to make. He counselled with other leaders and organised several trips of trucks and dinghies to transport water containers, canvasses/tarpaulin, and food supplies.

Johnny Leota, a spokesperson for the Church in Papua New Guinea, said, “President Hosea’s visit to Goroka/Chimbu has been a huge blessing for the members and friends of the Church. He received a first-hand account of the needs and damage caused. He and his travelling companions were well received by the members and leaders. They felt remembered, uplifted, and loved in their time of need. Travelling with him were security, local church leaders, and young missionaries of the Church."

Throughout April, with flood waters still rising, leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ continued working to send tarpaulins for shelter, to capture clean water into supplied containers, and to provide food to those in need.

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Humanitarian managers for the Church in the Pacific Area, Taulia Tafiti and Uraia Levaci, were the first responders who accompanied President Ambuia in the Sepik River District, driving three hours from Wewak to the river point, and another two-and-half hours in a dinghy. This was the only way to access the multiple villages along the river. Other inland villages were visited by trekking up to 45 minutes.

Tafiti said, “These villagers showed such great resilience. They still attended church where partaking of the sacrament was a priority. The Moim congregation had 180 in attendance; Pinang had 186.”

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550 20-litre water containers were delivered from Wewak up the Sepik River to the chapel, where the people met President Ambuia to fill the containers and take the water to their temporary dry land locations.

Food and tarpaulins followed soon after with hopes to distribute a four-weeks-supply of food at a time, as there is no storage where the people live for security and safety reasons.

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Reid said, “Even when they have so little left, they still want to give to you as a recognition of your coming. It’s literally all they have that they can say thank you with. Sounds like a Papua New Guinea version of the widow’s mite.

“You really feel like helping people that are that humble.”