Papua New Guinea's Wellington Albert stars: Widnes Vikings 6-28 St Helens

by Phil Cartwright, bbc.com

Super League: Widnes Vikings 6-28 St Helens

Widnes Vikings (6) 6
Try: Albert Goal: Gilmore
St Helens (16) 28

Tries: Morgan, Percival 2, Barba, Makinson 2 Goals: Richardson 2

St Helens maintained their four-point lead at the top of Super League with a six-try win at neighbours Widnes.
Ryan Morgan and Mark Percival put the visitors 10-0 up but injury-hit Vikings were rewarded for a spell of pressure when Wellington Albert crashed over.

Mark Percival took his tally of Super League tries in 2018 to nine with his double against Widnes

Percival's second restored Saints' 10-point lead before the interval.
Ben Barba's controversial score and a double from Tommy Makinson, the second his 100th try for St Helens, sealed a comfortable victory.
Leaders St Helens looked on course for a convincing victory when they raced ahead early on, but the introduction of Papua New Guinea prop Albert from the bench inspired Widnes into a response.
Luke Douglas' yellow card early in the second period offered the hosts further hope, which was quickly snuffed out when full-back Barba stepped through the Vikings' back line to score his 10th Super League try of the season.
However, it should not have stood as slow-motion replays showed the Australian had lost control of the ball in the act of grounding it over the line.
A young Widnes side emerged from the defeat with credit, despite winger Makinson twice finishing acrobatically in the corner to reach his personal milestone and increase the margin of victory.

Widnes: Craven; Marsh, Chamberlain, Runciman, Ince; Heremaia, Gilmore; Gerrard, Johnstone, Chapelhow, Olbison, Wilde, B Walker.

Replacements: Burke, Leuluai, D Walker, Albert.

St Helens: Barba; Makinson, Morgan, Percival, Grace; Fages, Richardson; Amor, Roby, Thompson, Peyroux, Taia, Wilkin.

Replacements: Smith, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Douglas, Knowles.

Referee: Chris Kendall

UN food aid to benefit 60,000 people in earthquake-hit Papua New Guinea

news.un.org
April 2, 2018

The United Nations emergency food relief agency has airlifted over 80 metric tonness of vital nutritional supplements – enough to feed approximately 60,000 people in earthquake-hit Papua New Guinea.
According to the UN World Food Programme (WFP), the aircraft carrying the nutrient-dense, high energy biscuits, departed the UN Humanitarian Response Depot in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Monday morning, and its life-saving cargo will reach those in need within days.

UNICEF/Bell: People affected by the earthquake in Papua New Guinea take shelter under a tent. Across the island nation, over 270,000 remain dependent on humanitarian assistance in the aftermath of the disaster and a series of devastating aftershocks.

The plane used for the airlift was provided by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and the Ruler of Dubai.
“[This] support is crucial to deliver humanitarian assistance to those most affected by this natural disaster,” said Stefano Peveri, the head of the Humanitarian Response Depot in Dubai.
More than 270,000 people remain dependent on humanitarian assistance across the Pacific island nation after it was hit by a devastating 7.5 magnitude earthquake in February.
The earthquake was followed by a series of severe aftershocks throughout March, causing widespread panic among communities.
In addition, Papua New Guinea already faced severe food insecurity and alarming malnutrition levels before the earthquake. WFP’s remote assessments estimate that approximately 37 per cent of the population, or 60,000 people, were severely food insecure before the earthquake.
The earthquake and its aftershocks have further impacted people in the most vulnerable areas of the country, destroying root crops and vegetable gardens; the primary food sources in the affected area, said the UN agency.

Tanker docks at ExxonMobil's Papua New Guinea LNG export terminal

reuters.com
April 2, 2018

SINGAPORE, April 2 (Reuters) - A liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker has docked at ExxonMobil’s Papua New Guinea export plant, which has been shut since late February following a powerful earthquake, indicating that the facility is preparing to resume shipments.
The 172,000-cubic metre capacity LNG tanker Kumul, custom-built for the ExxonMobil-operated PNG LNG project, is currently moored at the terminal, Thomson Reuters Eikon shiptracking data showed.
It has a draft of 90 percent, suggesting it is nearly full, after leaving Indonesia’s Bontang on March 26.
This is likely the LNG cargo ExxonMobil purchased last month to keep its PNG plant cold, an industry source said, but that could not be verified.
Exxon officials could not be reached on Monday, a public holiday in Papua New Guinea.
LNG achieves its fluid status by being super-cooled to around minus 160 degrees Celsius (minus 260 degrees Fahrenheit).
A senior ExxonMobil executive said in March that the company was shipping in the cargo to keep the LNG export plant cool so it is ready to start production from the gas when it comes down from its Hides facility.
The company hopes to resume shipments from the export facility - one of its top performing assets in 2017 - by late April, or eight weeks after it shut following a 7.5 magnitude earthquake that killed dozens of people.
Led by Exxon, with a one-third stake, and its Australian partners Oil Search and Santos, PNG LNG is the impoverished nation’s biggest revenue earner.
Exxon and France’s Total plan to double their gas exports from Papua New Guinea to around 16 million tonnes a year at an estimated cost of $13 billion.

Reporting by Jessica Jaganathan Editing by Manolo Serapio Jr.

World Food Programme airlifts life-saving relief to people affected by Papua New Guinea earthquake

wfp.org
April 2, 2018

​DUBAI – The World Food Programme (WFP) yesterday airlifted life-saving, nutrient-dense biscuits from its UN Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD) in Dubai to Papua New Guinea.
With a cargo of more than 80 metric tonnes of the nutritious high energy biscuits, the plane carried enough food to feed approximately 60,000 earthquake-affected people.
​More than 270,000 people continue to require humanitarian assistance following the devastating 7.5 magnitude earthquake which struck the country in February, and this airlift is part of WFP’s emergency response in the country.
The earthquake was followed by a series of severe aftershocks throughout March, causing widespread panic among communities.
The plane departed from Dubai early Monday morning and the biscuits will reach people within days.
 The plane used for the airlift was provided by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
“We are grateful for Sheikh Mohammed’s generosity in rapidly providing this plane. His support is crucial to deliver humanitarian assistance to those most affected by this natural disaster,” said Stefano Peveri, Head of UNHRD in Dubai.
“More than 60 percent of UNHRD transports originate from Dubai. This makes Dubai WFP’s largest humanitarian hub in the world, thanks to the excellent logistical facilities and ongoing Government support."
Papua New Guinea already faced severe food insecurity and alarming malnutrition levels before the earthquake.
Approximately 37 percent of the population, or 60,000 people, were severely food insecure before the earthquake, according to WFP’s remote assessments using mobile technology.
The earthquake and its aftershocks have further impacted people in the most vulnerable areas of the country, destroying root crops and vegetable gardens; the primary food sources in the affected area.
The airlift is facilitated by the International Humanitarian City (IHC), chaired by Her Royal Highness Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, which hosts WFP’s warehousing facilities in Dubai.
The Princess is a long-term supporter of WFP and currently serves as a United Nations Messenger of Peace.

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WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. Each year, WFP assists some 80 million people in around 80 countries.

Scientology Volunteer Ministers disaster specialists join local volunteers in Papua New Guinea to help villages recover from magnitude 7.5 earthquake

A Global Digital Media Network
http://m.digitaljournal.com/pr/3717199
April 2, 2018

A grassroots initiative is helping sooth the anxiety and stress of those coping in the wake of the magnitude 7.5 Papua New Guinea (PNG) earthquake.
 Scientology Volunteer Ministers (VMs) are bringing immediate relief to those living in care centers while they carry out assessments of the food and water supplies and any medical or sanitation situations for local authorities.

The United Nations estimates some 270,000 Papua New Guineans have yet to receive urgent humanitarian care.
In addition to their physical needs, UNICEF Representative for PNG Karen Allen is concerned about the fear, loss and confusion the children have experienced since the Feb 26 quake. 
More than 140 significant aftershocks have rocked the island, providing a constant reminder of danger.
So the VMs begin by teaching them “The Triangle of Life” — a survival technique of particular value in developing countries where inadequate or nonexistent building codes make finding a “survivable void” inside collapsed buildings more important than shielding yourself from falling debris.
Next, they use a Scientology process to help them overcome their fear of the dangerous environment.
“Usually at this point, the entire group is super relaxed and happy and we answer any further questions and leave it at that,” said one of the Volunteer Ministers.
But after they delivered this process in one center, a man came up to him and ask for more information.
The man really wanted to learn how to deliver this process, so he could help his wife and family.
The Volunteer Minister gave him a booklet describing these techniques, all of which are also available through a free online course on the Volunteer Ministers website.
It is remarkable how quickly people rebound with the application of a few simple Volunteer Minister tools, the VM noted.
The Church of Scientology Volunteer Minister program is a religious social service created in the mid-1970s by L. Ron Hubbard.
 Anyone of any culture or creed may train as a Volunteer Minister and use these tools to help their families and communities.
 The church provides free online training on the Volunteer Ministers website.
In creating the Volunteer Ministers program, L. Ron Hubbard wrote, “If one does not like the crime, cruelty, injustice and violence of this society, he can do something about it. He can become a Volunteer Minister and help civilise it, bring it conscience and kindness and love and freedom from travail by instilling into it trust, decency, honesty and tolerance.”

Rural populations in four districts to benefit from EU and UNICEF support WASH project

Port Moresby, 29 March 2018 – A Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) project to be implemented soon in four districts in Papua New Guinea is expected to have significant positive impact on the productivity, health and wellbeing of 70,000 people including some 40,000 children, UNICEF said today.
The project, to be executed in two phases over four years, will be implemented  in close collaboration with district development authorities (DDAs) in the four districts of Nawae (Morobe Province), Central Bougainville (Autonomous Regional of Bougainville), Goroka (EHP) and Hagen Central (WHP).
 “UNICEF is delighted to work in partnership with the European Union (EU), the Government of Papua New Guinea and the DDAs in the four districts to implement phase one of this important project, UNICEF Representative, Karen Allen said at the launch of the first phase of the project.
“Poor sanitation, unsafe water and unhygienic practices are major causes of preventable illness and deaths especially in children.
 "While access to safe water is important, the largest health benefits that come from improving sanitation and hygiene practices, are essential for the survival and development of children and wellbeing of people in general. UNICEF is committed to working with partners in this project to mobilise communities to promote behavioural change through community driven actions and solutions,” Allen stressed.
"The EU is one of the largest donors of WASH assistance worldwide.
"In Papua New Guinea, the EU Delegation has been actively supporting this focal sector over 40 years of partnership.
"This joint EU-UNICEF-PNG project will provide sustainable access to safe drinking water, basic sanitation and key hygiene practices in rural areas in schools and health facilities in line with the PNG’s National WASH Policy.
" This strategic approach to join our forces targeting schools and health centres is essential to continue progress towards Sustainable Development Goals", mentioned the Head of the EU Delegation, Ambassador Ioannis Giogkarakis-Argyropoulos.
Four selected non-governmental organisations – World Vision, Plan International, Oxfam and Infra Tech - will support respective DDAs in the four districts for five months.
During the first phase, they will, amongst other things, develop a five-year WASH plan and budget for access to safe water, handwashing facilities and improved sanitation and hygiene practices.
Phase two of the project, expected to start in September 2018, will see the implementation of WASH services for 200 schools, 36 health centres and hygiene behaviour change services in 800 communities.
In commending the Government for its holistic WASH policy, and for establishing a WASH Management Unit, developing an Implementation Strategy, and facilitating an institutional structure to implement the Policy, the EU and UNICEF said: “Improving access to and use of safe water, basic sanitation and improved hygiene practices will reduce child mortality, improve health and education outcomes and contribute to reduced poverty and sustainable development as a whole.”

PM O’Neill welcomes China Export-Import Bank Vice President to Papua New Guinea

Office of the Prime Minister
Papua New Guinea

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill  has welcomed the ongoing engagement between Papua New Guinea and the Export-Import Bank of China to fund development projects around the country.
 O’Neill made the comments after meeting EXIM Bank Vice President,  Sun Ping, in Port Moresby last week.

“China is a strong development partner with Papua New Guinea and we look forward to developing additional projects,” he said.
“We have a very clear one-China policy in Papua New Guinea and work together on a range of projects and initiatives that deliver clear benefits for our country and the broader global economy.
“This includes infrastructure delivery, and interests of mutual benefit such as dealing with climate change.
“With the recent re-election of Xi Jinping as the President of the People’s Republic of China, and the continuation of China’s development programmes, I anticipate we will identify additional opportunities to increase engagement.
“EXIM Bank Vice President Sun Ping was in Papua New Guinea to research projects and work with the Government on a number of opportunities ahead of the APEC Leader’s Summit in November.
“The China EXIM Bank has an important role to play in Papua New Guinea and we will continue to advance this engagement.”
O'Neill further welcomed the intended visit by President Xi to Papua New Guinea during APEC Leader’s Week.
“China is providing support for APEC 2018 Papua New Guinea and we look forward to hosting President Xi in November," he said.
“Both countries are looking to the delivery of concrete outcomes from the current APEC year hosted by Papua New Guinea.
“The policy agenda of APEC this year has a strong focus on economic empowerment and this is particularly relevant to Papua New Guinea as we continue to expand infrastructure across the country.
“Following the recent Highlands earthquake we are now also facing substantial infrastructure repairs and rebuilding, and projects are being assessed.”
President Xi Jinping has confirmed his attendance at the APEC Summit and this will also provide the opportunity for him to see first-hand a number of development projects undertaken in Papua New Guinea with China.