People of Aitape-Lumi affected by landslides.

After the recent heavy flooding of Aitape in February, villages in the Lumi area of the district are now facing a hazardous situation with the occurrence of several landslides.

According to reports from the Aitape District Administration, the situational status still needs to be confirmed with district authorities in Lumi. This is due to inaccessibility of transportation by road and the absence of aviation services.

Aitape District Administration Timothy Teklan has reported that there is an urgent need for a helicopter to assist the administration to conduct thorough assessments of the current landslide situation.

Mr. Teklan also reported taht a request would be made to the Chairman of the Aitape Joint District Budget Priority Committee (JDBPC) for authorization to allocate funds for the use of a helicopter.

He said the villages such as Mawi and others in the Karaitem area have already lost food gardens and a few houses.

Further details of the situation are still yet to be reported as initial word of the landslides were delivered to the Aitape District Administration by village hikers.