2008 Papua New Guinea floods

Natural disaster in Papua New Guinea June 2020 -9.5 147.116 title The 2008 Papua New Guinea floods displaced roughly 75,000 people located in Papua New Guinea, prompting an international response to provide support for the region. The country was struck by large sea swells on 16 December, apparently caused by "strong storms",http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/12/16/Papua_New_Guinea_hit_by_flooding/UPI-47351229476736 Papua New Guinea hit by flooding 2008-12-19 United Press International which affected over eight provinces and caused at least one death. Response The United Nations dispatched a six-member disaster assessment team after determining that there was a high possibility of water-borne diseases spreading throughout the populace. According to early government estimates, 60,000 people had been displaced, while 35,000 were in need of "immediate aid", according to the United Nations. The tides destroyed crops and carried away farming implements.https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=29325&Cr=flood&Cr1=ocha Flood-stricken Papua New Guinea receives UN assistance United Nations 16 December 2008 2008-12-18 U.N. spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs stated that displacement rates were high, with as many as "half the population of Manus Island" being displaced. Byrs also said that, "The Government of Papua New Guinea has declared a state of national disaster", adding that "a team of [UN] experts should arrive on Wednesday to examine [Papua New Guinean] needs." Byrs concluded by stating that, "The affected islands are scattered and the never-ending nature of the tidal waves makes the evaluation of the situation very difficult."http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/tidal-waves-displace-75000-in-png/2008/12/17/1229189710074.html Tidal waves displace 75,000 in PNG 18 December 2008 2008-12-18 The Sydney Morning Herald Australia pledged A$1 million in support, and had already started flying food and supplies to affected areas; the relief flights were troubled, with multiple planes sustaining damage from birds. A C-130 Hercules taking off from the PNG province of New Ireland on 16 December aborted after a bird hit one of the plane's propellers. The second attempt, four hours after the first, met the same fate, with another bird hitting the aircraft while it was taxiing, causing serious engine damage to the left-hand propeller and forcing the RAAF crew to be grounded for a week while waiting for a replacement engine.http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/12/16/2448262.htm?section=world https://web.archive.org/web/20081227020302/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/12/16/2448262.htm?section=world dead 27 December 2008 Relief mission grounded after birds hit plane Steve Marshall ABC News 16 December 2008 2008-12-18 New Zealand also pledged $300,000 in support for the Red Cross relief effort in PNG. A New Zealand councilman, Shane Bayley, flew out with the United Nations disaster assessment team, later reporting that "a lot of the food gardens in the coast villages having been destroyed; that is their local supply of food, so it's also ensuring they have a means of distribution for food supplies."http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2008/12/16/124385c00d51 New Zealand is joining an international relief effort to help tens of thousands of people in Papua New Guinea... Radio New Zealand 16 December 2008 2008-12-18 See also 2024 Papua New Guinea floods References Papua New Guinea floods Category:Natural disasters in Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea Floods, 2008 Category:2008 disasters in Papua New Guinea