'I was terrified': fears over child mental health in post-quake Papua New Guinea

by Verity Bowman, theguardian.com

April 9, 2018

Close to 25,000 under 18s suffering psychological damage in chaos and violence following catastrophic tremors, says World Health Organisation

Stanton, 10, standing on the remains of his home in Daga, Papua New Guinea. Photograph: Thomas Nybo/Unicef

As many as 25,000 children in Papua New Guinea are in desperate need of psychological support following a series of devastating earthquakes, warned the World Health Organisation.
The PNG government estimates 270,000 people are in need of urgent assistance, including 125,000 children. Of these, 15% to 20% need psychological help, the WHO said. The 7.5 magnitude earthquake on 26 February was followed by almost 200 aftershock tremors in the last 40 days. Some of these have reached a magnitude of 6.5.
According to Kate Dischino of Americares, a charity working in the country, the aftershocks and lack of stability are causing significant psychological issues.
“The need for mental healthcare is much greater than anyone had anticipated.
"It’s been nearly 45 days since the first earthquake happened and people are still uncertain how they’re going to see their families and where they’re going to sleep at night.
"The aftershocks are truly frightening, so mental health and psychosocial survival becomes more of a priority every day.”
Among those worst affected are children. Karen Allen, Unicef representative to PNG, said lack of water and shelter and threat of disease compound mental trauma, adding to the suffering caused by ongoing violence in the country.
“Children are still being confronted by fear, loss, confusion, family separation, deteriorated living conditions and disruption of social and school activities. "Psychological damage among children should not be overlooked.
" It can have a negative impact on brain development, mental health and overall wellbeing in the long run.”
Children who have suffered trauma have an increased risk of delayed development, mental health disorders, depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicide, she added.
“I was terrified when the earth started shaking,” Stanton, 10, told Unicef, standing on the remains of his home in Daga, after the earthquakes destroyed seven out of ten homes in the village.
 “I tried to run far away, but it was dark and I was confused.”
Stanton managed to escape but said his family had been left with nothing.
Existing tensions in the area are worsening the situation.
There has been a renewed outbreak of violence in Hela province, one of the worst hit by the earthquake, with animosity aggravated by poor mental health and scarce resources.
 Thousands have been displaced and are unable to return to their villages.
“It is children who are witness to this and sometimes even become involved in it, either as victims in some cases – when they’re shot or they’re slashed – or sometimes the men put the weapons in the hands of children,” said Allen.
“There are children even under the age of 10 running around with weapons.
"It’s this normalisation of extreme violence that will affect children the most.”
Before the earthquake, children in PNG were already at high risk of violence and abuse.
 According to Unicef, about 75% of children report experiences of physical abuse and about 80% experience emotional abuse during their lifetime.
A recent Médecins Sans Frontières report showed that 12,000 cases of family and sexual violence are treated each year in Tari Family Support Centre, Hela province.
With 100 schools affected and five totally destroyed, 15,000 children are out of school. Unicef has responded by creating child-friendly spaces, intended to provide both emotional and educational support.
Unicef child protection specialist Ali Aulia Ramly said these safe temporary learning spaces would help give local children the support they need.
“The teachers and volunteers are trained to assist children in expressing their feelings and emotions and to process [them] in a culturally appropriate way.
*We are building their resilience.”

Aftershocks hit Papua New Guinea as it recovers from a remote major earthquake

by Sabin Zahirovic, theconversation.com
April 8, 2018

Another powerful aftershock hit Papua New Guinea this weekend as the recovery effort continues following February’s deadly magnitude 7.5 earthquake, with many thousands of people dependent on humanitarian aid.

Ten-year-old Stanton in the ruins of his home following the earthquake that hit Papua New Guinea in February. EPA/Thomas Nybo/UNICEF

Aid organisations such as CARE Australia and UNICEF are still seeking donations. The Australian government has sent medical staff and other support to help.
Some have criticised the PNG government’s efforts as “too slow”.

Read more: The science of landslides, and why they're so devastating in PNG

But the earthquake highlights the challenge for emerging economies like PNG in deploying relief efforts into remote areas to deal with natural disasters.
And the same geological features that make PNG a rich source of mineral deposits are also part of its earthquake problem.

The earthquake hits

The February earthquake struck the western Highlands provinces of the Pacific island nation, and a series of aftershocks, including several of magnitude 6 or more, continued to shake the region during the following weeks.
Although parts of PNG are particularly earthquake-prone (especially in the north and the islands, along the plate boundary), February’s earthquake was quite exceptional.
It occurred in a usually less active part of the plate boundary and was remarkably powerful when compared with the short (modern) instrumental earthquake record. The strength and frequency of the aftershocks has posed an additional threat to local populations and key economic infrastructure.

Distribution of the aftershocks magnitude since the main quake (as of April 9, 2018). The size and colour (small to large, yellow to red) indicate aftershock magnitude and the number of days after main shock. The white shaded ellipse represents the area of greatest slip during the main shock. Green diamonds represent the main gas fields. USGS/Gilles Brocard, Author provided

On average 10-20 major earthquakes (magnitudes 7 and greater) occur on Earth every year.
Most of them occur far from densely populated regions, such that only a few draw media attention.
The mountainous regions of New Guinea, known as the fold and thrust belt, have been geologically active for millions of years.
But the long recurrence interval of major earthquakes (every few centuries) combined with the short period of the instrument records (just a few decades) gives us the false impression that seismicity is uncommon in this region.
The February earthquake occurred due to the activation of a major fault system in the forested foothills, between the Papuan highlands to the north and the Fly River lowlands to the south.

Australia collides

The Papuan highlands have risen due to the collision between the Australian and Caroline/Pacific tectonic plates over the past five million years.
Despite this collision, the Australian plate continues to move at about 7 cm a year to the northeast, in geological terms a quite remarkable speed, leading to a build-up of strain in the continental crust.
Much of this strain is released at the plate boundary along northern New Guinea, usually with more frequent but less powerful swarms of earthquakes. It is this motion, driven by the churning interior of our planet, that leads to major adjustments to the GPS datum and reference coordinates for the entire Australian continent.
But few people are aware that this very motion of the Australian continent is what causes the seismic and volcanic activity in New Guinea and parts of Southeast Asia.
As Australia moves northward, the entire New Guinea margin acts as a bulldozer, collecting Pacific islands, seamounts and other topographic features. New Guinea represents the leading edge of the advancing Australian continent, which causes continental crust to fold and crumple over a broad region.
This is a well-known process in plate tectonics, where the oceanic plates are known to behave quite rigidly, whereas the continental regions tend to deform over broader diffuse boundaries that resemble plasticine over geological timeframes.
But the continental deformation process results in poorly defined (often due to the thick tropical vegetation cover) and intermittently active fault systems in the continent.
Over the duration of mountain building in the past five million years, the areas of highest deformation have shifted across the range.
Today most of the deformation in PNG takes place north of the mountainous area, where it generates a lot of earthquakes.

Underground riches at risk

Some substantial crumpling of the continental crust still occurs across the southern foothills.
The folding and thrusting has generated geologically young folds, within which a large part of PNG’s gas and oil wealth has accumulated.
The intense tectonic activity has also led to the enrichment of mineral resources, including mines sourcing gold, copper, silver, nickel, cobalt and a suite of other ore types.
It is this tectonic activity that determines the delicate interplay of economic benefits from raw materials, and the often-devastating and usually-unpredictable effects of natural disasters on society.
Although the February earthquake occurred at the very heart of one of the largest and newest gas fields in the country, the industrial installations, at the highest international standards, have not suffered major damage from the tremors.
But the ongoing disaster triggered a temporary halt in gas extraction, as the facilities require inspections and repairs. Unfortunately, and unusually, the earthquakes have struck in some of the most remote parts of the country.

Coping with disaster

Hela province is one of the poorest in PNG and its people are unprepared and ill-equipped to deal with a disaster of this scale. As many as half a million people were reported to be affected by the earthquake. At least 145 people reported killed.

Read more: Five active volcanoes on my Asia Pacific 'Ring of Fire' watch-list right now

The Highlands Highway, the one real road into the region, was badly damaged and this is the major source of food and medicines.
 Many feeder roads have gone.
Papua New Guineans are resilient but it is likely that more external assistance will be needed to ensure that a physical disaster does not become a greater human tragedy.
Even so the full extent of the disaster has still to be revealed, while aftershocks continue to trigger secondary hazards including major landslides that have isolated a large number of communities.
Not only are local communities facing the immediate hazards of further earthquakes and landslides, they face a protracted and costly recovery ahead.

The Conversation is an independent news organisation that sources articles from academia.

Can Manus island go from detention centre to tourism hot spot?

Travel Weekly
travelweekly.com.au
April 9, 2018

The Australian government is funding a study to help develop tourism on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea.
The island, which was previously used by the government to detain asylum seekers, is still home to around 600 refugees and asylum seekers.
Four asylum seekers have died on the island, with two more deaths in Australia after contracting fatal illness on the island, reports the ABC, and many more have been victim to violent assaults including at the hands of the PNG police and Defence forces.
The treatment of asylum seekers on the island has prompted condemnation from branches of the UN, reports SBS.
The study is being conducted through aid contractor Abt Associates and will review the tourism industry on the island, aiming to identify “strengths, weaknesses and area of growth”.
The contractor is advertising for a six-month advisor role which will pay around $146,000 plus allowances, reports the ABC.
The advisor will be in charge of producing a 12-year tourism plan as well as collating a database of the natural and man-made sites on the island and advertise them on a new promotional website.
The island’s government had requested Australia’s help in boosting tourism, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, to help generate jobs and economic growth.
Manus has only two hotels, with one currently used to house guards for the asylum seeker accommodation that replaced the detention centre, the ABC said.
The chief executive of PNG’s Tourism Promotion Authority Jerry Agus, said the island has great potential for tourism.
“It’s not about what you hear about and what you read in the papers.” he told the ABC.
“One of the greatest areas of strength they have in terms of tourism is diving, surfing is one of them, and there’s a lot war relics in Manus Island as well.”

PM O’Neill congratulates Commonwealth Games medal winners and all athletes competing for Papua New Guinea

Office of the Prime Minister

Papua New Guinea

 Prime Minister and Minister for Sports Peter O’Neill has congratulated the first two Papua New Guinea athletes to win medals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and thanked the coaching staff and families of all athletes who are competing.
(Note that after making this statement, weightlifter Steven Kari won the first gold medal for PNG).
 O’Neill applauded every athlete who has made it to the games and said the country is behind them all the way.
"I congratulate all athletes who qualified for the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast,” he said.
"We know a lot of sweat and sacrifice has been required to reach to the Commonwealth Games and each of you must be congratulated.
“So far we have two silver medals in weightlifting events.  

"I congratulate Morea Baru and Dika Toua for their tremendous efforts to win silver in their weightlifting events.
“We look forward to welcoming you and all athletes home after the Games.
“There are still many days to go in this Games and I look forward to many more thrilling competitions for our athletes.
“But regardless of where our athletes finish, so long as they put in their best they can compete with pride and Papua New Guinea is right behind you cheering all the way.
“On behalf of the Nation I thank all Papua New Guinea athletes for their efforts, and I hope they wear our National colours with great pride.

" This is a time that you will remember for the rest of your lives.
“Our Government has demonstrated our commitment to developing sports in our country, from the grassroots to the highest level of competition.
“We will continue to enhance sports, from the regions to the professional training facilities.”
O'Neill said elite athletes are where they are today not only because of their talent and hard work, but also because of the people who support them.
“We must also thank all of the people behind our athletes who have made it possible for our young men and women to compete," he said.
“The coaches, trainers and administration and support staff who guide our athletes help them to give their best.
“We must also never forget the struggle and effort that is put in by the families of our athletes.
“To reach the Commonwealth Games standard requires families to be right behind our athletes, to make it possible for them to train and focus on their athletic careers.
“Family members are overcome with pride when they see their loved ones competing on the world stage.”

Educating people of what to do in a tsunami in Papua New Guinea

pg.undp.org| April 6, 2018

52- year old Evodia Stanley is a woman with a lot on her mind.

Evodia Stanley, Ward Member for Ialakua Ward in Kokopo District. Raluana Primary School is in the vicinity of Ialakua Ward. ©Kim Allen/UNDP

As a mother and grandmother, her family’s welfare is her main priority and Evodia does everything in her power to ensure they are safe and well. Since her election as the first female local level government member for her Ialakua community, Evodia’s concerns, now more than ever, include her family and wider community.

But there are some things that are beyond Evodia’s powers, such as natural disasters. Three weeks ago (on March 9th) a 6.8 magnitude earthquake shook her community and the wider region in her part of Papua New Guinea (PNG). Fortunately, there were no casualties.

Ialakua is located in East New Britain Province (ENB), home to active volcanoes, called Vulcan and Tavuvur, which are located on the Pacific Ring of Fire. This makes Ialakua and the rest of ENB highly vulnerable to earthquakes and tsunamis.

While preventing earthquakes and tsunamis are beyond Evodia’s powers, it is within her means to ensure her constituents, particularly the children, know what to do in the event of an earthquake or a tsunami. Considering safety of children and wider community, Evodia was a keen supporter to increase awareness amongst her family and community members in Ialakua.

Then, an opportunity was made possible thanks to the awareness drive on earthquake and tsunami preparedness through collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), National Department of Education (NDoE), National Disaster Centre (NDC), Department of Mineral Policy and Geohazards Management, and the Provincial Disaster Office. The awareness drive included face-to-face interactions on earthquake and tsunami drills between experts and teachers, as well as provincial and local level government officials. Following initial school and site assessments, earthquake and tsunami drills were conducted in George Brown Secondary and Raluana Primary Schools. Raluana Primary School is in the vicinity of Evodia’s community.

Out of the 697 students of Raluana Primary, 120 students in grade five were selected to participate in the tsunami drills. Apart from them, there were 196 observers which included elementary school students, community members, youths, and representatives from different sectors in the province.

During the tsunami drills, students were taught on how to identify early warning signs of tsunami, what to do in case of earthquakes and tsunami. The schools were also supported to develop their own emergency response and evacuation plans.

“I am grateful to all the partners involved in the tsunami drills,” said Ms. Stanley.

“I am also proud that the tsunami drills were carried out in my ward. The youth and community representatives from my ward were involved in the drills and learned important life skills. We will share what we have learnt here and inform our families and community groups about earthquake and tsunami preparedness,” she added.

UNDPs Disaster Risk Management project is assisting the NDoE and NDC to carry out tsunami drills in three schools, two in East New Britain and one in Milne Bay Province.

This is part of ‘Strengthening School Preparedness for Tsunami in the Asia Pacific’ funded by the Japanese Government. PNG is one of 18 countries participating in this regional project.

Papua New Guinea's Steven Kari smashes Commonwealth clean and jerk record to retain men's 94kg weightlifting title at Gold Coast 2018

By Daniel Etchells at the Carrara Sports Arena 1 in Gold Coast 
Sunday, 8 April 2018
Inside the Games

Papua New Guinea’s Steven Kari successfully defended his Commonwealth Games title in the men’s 94 kilograms weightlifting event after breaking the 17-year-old clean and jerk Commonwealth record here today at Gold Coast 2018.

He was trailing Canada’s Boady Santavy by 13kg with two attempts remaining in the clean and jerk but incredibly managed to lift 216kg to claim victory with a total of 370kg.
It smashed the previous Commonwealth record, set by Australia’s Alexan Karapetyan in November 2001, by 6kg.
Victory for Kari also secured Papua New Guinea a first gold medal of Gold Coast 2018.
Santavy had to settle for the silver medal with a total of 369kg.
The 20-year-old managed 168kg in the snatch, breaking Karapetyan’s Commonwealth Games record of 167kg set at Manchester 2002.
He then finished on 201kg in the clean and jerk after failing with his last attempt at 206kg.
Santavy is currently facing criminal charges related to a hit and run back home but Commonwealth Games Canada President Rick Powers said he was eligible to compete because he has not been convicted of a crime.
According to a news release from Sarnia police dated March 19, Santavy was charged with failing to remain at the scene of collision after turning himself in.
He was released on a promise to appear in court, The Canadian Press reports.
Completing the men’s 94kg podium was India’s Vikas Thakur, who finished with a total of 351kg.
He managed 159kg in the snatch and 192kg in the clean and jerk.
Samoa’s Siaosi Leuo ranked third in the snatch with 156kg but bombed out in the clean and jerk after failing with all three of his attempts at 200kg.

Team Wellington in ruthless form in dismantling of Papua New Guinea

boxscorenews.com | April 7, 2018

OFC Team Wellington sounded a warning to their remaining OFC Champions League rivals with a comprehensive 11-0 dismantling of Papua New Guinea champions Lae City Dwellers in their quarterfinal at David Farrington Park on Saturday.

Team Wellington's Nati Hailemariam celebrates his hat-trick. OFC via Phototek

The hosts dominated from start to finish with Nathanael Hailemariam opening the scoring in just the 6th minute on his way to a first half hat trick while Angus Kilkolly headlined the scoring with four goals.
Scott Hilliar, Andy Bevin, Justin Gulley and Mario Barcia shared the rest as Wellington secured a two-legged semi-final against the winner of Auckland City and Solomon Warriors who play on Sunday.
Wellington also rattled the woodwork three times as Lae City struggled to adapt to both the cold conditions and the way Wellington were able to stretch their defence and exploit the resulting space.
The one-sided win equals the biggest victory in the Champions League era of Oceania club competition – set last season by Auckland City’s 11-0 win over Malampa Revivors – and establishes a new mark for the largest win in a knockout phase.
“We’re delighted,” said Team Wellington coach José Figueira, whose side were coming off a defeat to Auckland City on last week’s grand final of the New Zealand premiership.
“The boys were pretty eager to get out on the field after the disappointment of last week and I thought we were exceptional today.
“Every game we play we want to play our way and dominate the games by attacking. We were disappointed last week that we didn’t cause as many problems as we normally do in the final third and that was a big focus this week at training.
“It was Lae today, but I think it was any other team today they might have been on the end of same thing. I’m delighted with every area of the game today.”
Lae City Dwellers coach Peter Gunemba was still shell-shocked after the Wellington onslaught in what was an historic first ever playoff game for Lae.
“It’s too much to comprehend,” Gunemba said.
“It’s a game. It’s gone now and we look ahead to next season in the Champions League. We did not expect the score would be this way.”
Hailemariam grabbed the first of his treble in the sixth minute when he gathered the ball on the edge of the area before lifting it over an on-rushing Ronald Warisan and eight minutes later, as the rain began to fall, Hailemariam pounced on a poorly-cleared ball to slot his second beneath the Lae ‘keeper.
Scott Hilliar met a Mario Illich corner with a firm near-post header to add Wellington’s third in the 17th minute and Angus Kilkolly pushed it out to five in the 40th minute with two goals in as many minutes.
Andy Bevin laid the ball on a plate in front of goal for Hailemariam to complete his hat trick just before the sides went into the sheds with the scoreboard showing 6-0 and it took Kilkolly 45 seconds after the restart to round out his treble, heading a Roy Kayara cross in off the upright.
Kayara was again involved in Wellington’s eighth, forcing a save from Warisan that fell to the feet of Andy Bevin who made no mistake from close range in the 57th minute.
Justin Gulley produced a fine solo effort 11 minutes later, cutting in from the right flank before riding the challenge of a would-be tackler and beating Warisan one-on one before Kilkolly and Mario Barcia added two more goals for good measure in injury time.
The quarterfinals continued on Saturday with Vanuatu’s Nalkutan FC hosting Marist FC from the Solomon Islands and the conclude on Sunday with Auckland City FC meeting Solomon Warriors before AS Dragon host Fiji’s Lautoka in Tahiti.