ExxonMobil PNG assists with restoration of food gardens in Hela Province

Exxon Mobil

ExxonMobil PNG continues with its long-term recovery support for earthquake affected communities
Over 58,000 vegetative cuttings, 200 kgs seeds and 900 garden tools distributed 

ExxonMobil PNG Limited, operator of PNG LNG project is continuing to distribute planting materials and gardening tools to communities in its project areas as part of its long-term recovery plan to assist earthquake affected communities re-establish their food gardens.

Delivering planting materials in very bad weather

The distribution is being coordinated by ExxonMobil PNG’s Community Livelihood Improvement Program (CLIP) partner ANU Enterprise.

“ExxonMobil PNG is here to stay and as a good neighbour we are committed to lend a helping a hand to the communities who are in need of assistance to recover from the impacts of the earthquake,” said Andrew Barry, ExxonMobil PNG managing director.

The distribution has reached more than 900 household of communities living along the Pipeline Right of Way (ROW) at Benaria areas including Yarale, Timu, Lau, Benaria, Mulako Tangi, Tamita and Pakale.

Other distribution sites around Hides include the well pads, 3 Ways, Nigiria, Perapu and Kulu communities.

Since the distribution started, CLIP has delivered more than 39,000 sweet potato vines, 19,400 cassava cuttings, over 20 kilograms of seeds and more than 900 spades.

Sweet potato veins and cassava cuttings ready for distribution

The planting materials consist of pathogen tested sweet potato vines, cassava cuttings, green beans, corn and pakchoi seeds.

The villages are very remote and surrounded by mountains.

 The communities are mostly subsistence farmers, producing crops such as banana, sweet potato, cassava, pumpkin, peanuts and corn which were destroyed by the earthquake.

EMPNG CA Officer Jonah Kupio and VLO Gibson Pipe assisting CLIP team at Lau village 

Seventh Day Adventist Church Pastor, Michael Mogolo of Mulako Tangi community in the Hulia LLG from the Komo Margarima electorate in Hela, said the communities thanked ExxonMobil PNG for the assistance and that it was the first company to set its foot on their land after the earthquake.

“Government officials and other companies find our place so remote and difficult to reach so we don’t get the assistance we need. A helicopter landing on our land to deliver the planting materials and garden tools is a story we will live to tell,” he said.

Planting materials and gardening tools being delivered to Benaria Station community

ExxonMobil PNG is also continuing to provide support for the restoration of four key health care facilities and two primary schools in its project area in Hela Province as part of its long term recovery plan. 

Law and justice awareness promotes peace in the Fugwa Basin area, Hela Province

Australian High Commission

In Hela Province, the long path to recovery from February’s devastating earthquake is being hampered by intermittent outbreaks of intergroup fighting. Restoring peace and stability is important for setting a solid foundation for recovery and reconstruction.

The leadership of two previously warring clans from Hela Province recommitted to renouncing violence at a law and order workshop in the Fugwa Basin area, boosting hopes a peace settlement negotiated in April will hold.

The leaders were among 32 people attending a three-day workshop at Fugwa Primary School that provided information on law and justice agencies, family and sexual violence, juvenile justice, illicit drugs and tribal fighting.

Hela Provincial Law and Justice Manager James Tapale, who led the activity, said the presence of the two previously warring clans was very encouraging.

Hela Provincial Law and Justice Manager James Tapale

The two clans surrendered guns and other weapons during law and order awareness sessions conducted by Mr Tapale at Kereneipa Market in April, following an appeal by community leaders for an end to the fighting.

“It’s two months since our public awareness activity and there has not been any further tribal fighting in the Fugwa area,” Mr Tapale said. He stressed the need for continued follow-up to ensure peace is sustained.

For many of the attendees, this was the first time they have been to an awareness raising session on law and order. The workshop involved discussion of the causes and consequences of tribal fighting and violence.

“Some said their life was not safe; they lived with fear, their family was not settled, houses were burnt down, gardens destroyed, trees cut down and to be safe, they ran away and hid in the woods,” Mr Tapale said.

The participants were urged to embrace alternatives to violence in the resolution of disputes, including mediation and reporting incidents to police.

In addition to the workshop, Mr Tapale conducted law and justice awareness raising sessions at three primary, and one secondary school in the Fugwa Basin, and aims to expand his work to other parts of the Province.