PAPUA NEW GUINEA DROUGHT

THE PNG AND AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCES WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE PEOPLE OF PNG DURING THE 1997 – 1998 DROUGHT

CARING FOR KOSIPE

The Mission Station at Kosipe lies in ruins after a fire swept through the settlement leaving about 1000 people homeless. In the foreground are the remains of what was the priest residence and church.

Joe One of Kosipe in the Central Province of PNG, holds dead contents of what was once a prosperous garden.

Joe One and Lieutenant Frank Pomoso of the PNGDF examine the shrivelled contents of a garden in Kosipe.

Right - Joe One uses a portable water pump to keep his small crops of cabbage and spring onions alive. Left - Children from Kosipe cast a net in hopes of catching a few small fish in a shallow stream that continues to trickle through their village despite the drought.

Two woman, one nursing her child wait for the arrival of a Black Hawk helicopter from the Army's, Townsville-based, 5 Aviation Regiment, which will deliver much needed food supplies to Kosipe.

From left : Major Neil Turton and Lieutenants Matt Feather and Jeff Nicholson, all of the Army's, Townsville-based, 5th Aviation Regiment, plan their next relief mission, surrounded by rice, at Port Moresby.

A Black Hawk helicopter from the Army's, Townsville-based,5th Aviation Regiment descends at Kosipe in the Central Province of PNG. Kosipe can only be reached by helicopter and before arrival of the Black Hawks locals depend on family and friends to carry individual 25kg bags of rice for up to 6 hours.

Sergeant Paul Wilson, a load master with the Army's, Townsville-based, 5th Aviation Regiment, helps deliver rice to drought victims at Kosipe.

Children from Kosipe in the Central Province of PNG.

Photos taken by Corporal Darren Hilder

To avail of the print quality versions of the above images. please send requests to aaprspng@global.net.pg

Caring For Kosipe News Release. - November 10 ,1997