A combined total of K37.5 million in financial aid has been contributed towards providing relief support for an estimated total of 155 villages in Western Province affected by severe floods along the Fly River. According to Western Governor Taboi Awi Yoto those affected involve around 20,000 people displaced by the flooding, and they immediately need fresh drinking water, food, temporary shelter, and medical assistance. The aid relief for the affected communities lie along the Fly River following a flood disaster that has caused major displacement of people in various districts of the province, include K10 million from the National Government, K20 million from Ok Tedi Mining Ltd, K6 million from the Western Provincial Government and district authorities, K1 million from the National Disaster Office, and K500,000 from the Department of Works and Highways. Prime Minister James Marape has already been to visit the affected areas, and has expressed his sympathies, taking the time on Friday, June 21, to engage with the communities and comfort them, as he offered the said immediate relief and restoration assistance from the National Government. This follows his urgent trip to Western Province, accompanied by Minister for Works and Telefomin MP Solan Mirisim and Defense Minister and Nipa-Kutubu MP Dr. Billy Joseph, to visit the hardest-hit areas to assess the damage and express their sympathy. When arriving in Kiunga, North Fly District - together with Western Province Members of Parliament in an Ok Tedi Mining Ltd sponsored charter Flight from Port Moresby - Prime Minister Marape flew by helicopter to the most affected areas in three electorates - Obo (Middle Fly), Suki (South Fly) and Hawaba (Delta Fly). The Prime Minister has since arranged for fresh food supplies from neighboring districts of Nipa in the Southern Highlands and Tari-Pori, his electorate in the Hela Province, and Telefomin in West Sepik to assist the affected communities. “After visiting the most affected areas of Obo, Suki and Hawaba in Western Province along the Fly River following the flood disaster, the government is offering immediate assistance in terms of funding and food supplies, as the affected communities are experiencing hunger with their homes underwater right now.” “Relocation and long-term restoration of the people in these affected villages are also being looked at,” said Prime Minister Marape upon re-turning to Kiunga airport the same day. “I commend the leaders of Western Province for raising the concern for their people and putting the proposal through for us to ensure relief and permanent restoration for our people in the affected communities take place.”