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ChildFund Papua New Guinea has deployed an emergency response team to support hundreds of children and their families in Papua New Guinea affected by recent floods, and is working with the PNG Government and other agencies to assist in the response to the earthquake that recently impacted the Southern Highlands area.

More than 600 hygiene kits, each consisting of 10L collapsible container, water purification tablets, soap, oral hygiene products and a water storage bucket, have been distributed to families affected by the floods, with more to be delivered in the coming days.

More than 600 households and families from communities in Veifa’a, Aipiana and Apanaipi in Kairuku, Central Province, have been affected by the floods, which hit in January.

Heavy and continuous rain caused the St Joseph River to flood its river bank into nearby villages, damaging schools and homes, as well as the Veifa’a health centre.

Drinking water sources have been contaminated, and several cases of water-borne diseases have been reported.

ChildFund’s support in the distribution of hygiene kits will help prevent water-borne diseases in communities.

“ChildFund is responding to the floods in Central Province by providing vital water and sanitation support to the affected communities,” says ChildFund CEO Nigel Spence. “Our focus is to ensure children and their families in the flood-affected communities are safe and supported.”

ChildFund is also assisting in the emergency response to the earthquake and aftershocks in PNG’s Southern Highlands. An emergency staff member has been deployed to work with the government emergency response team.

Amilzia sleeps peacefully in her mother’s arms.

Her small face appears from the yellow and blue sarongs that swamp her tiny frame.

Her hands, half the size of mum’s finger, are crossed over her chest, and the thick string bracelets on her wrists rise and fall as she breathes.

The bracelets are there to ward off bad spirits.

Since she was born two weeks ago, her family has been worried about her health. Amilzia’s been struggling to breastfeed and is losing weight. While this may be normal for newborns in their first week after birth, the little girl hasn’t shown the healthy and normal signs of regaining weight.

She’s a 2.3kg bundle of joy, but the situation is distressing for mum Rosa, who is already having difficulty producing breastmilk.

Amilzia’s grandmother Filomena has been visiting the pair at their home in Timor-Leste’s Liquicia district, to provide encouragement and support.

Great grandmother Natalia, who makes the long walk down from her home in the mountains, has also joined them.

All three women are worried Amilzia will become malnourished and won’t gain enough weight to receive vaccinations – if she’s lucky to get them.

They know there’s a chance the little girl might not survive.

But worry, at the moment, is all they feel they can do. When they’re not distressed or anxious about Amilzia’s future, they’re hopeful things will change.

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