Hanuabada Village Fire Appeal

Over 200 people have been left homeless in Hanuabada Village (Port Moresby) as a devastating fire, driven by strong winds, ripped through several timber homes last Saturday 19 August 2017; fortunately no lives were lost, but the victims were left with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

About 30 homes of the Gunina and Tubumaga clans were burned, with 18 completely destroyed. The number of people affected is high because these homes can have several families living together. The Gunina clan is the largest clan in Hanuabada Village - it is the clan to which we (Hane Dietz, Susan Dietz-Henderson and Tommy Dietz Jr) belong, so this tragedy has hit us directly. Our family is suffering greatly, and our hearts are breaking with theirs.

Please - help us to raise funds to help the victims get through this terrible crisis. When it’s time to give, please give generously.

I have started this MYCAUSE campaign to raise funds from supporters outside of Port Moresby. At the end of this campaign I will send the funds direct to the Hanuabada Village Fire Appeal.

Background information FYI:
The Hanuabada Village Fire Appeal Committee (HVFAC) is spear-headed by Hanuabada Village leaders, Mr Dadi Toka Jr and Lohia Boe Samuel; the Committee has also established a "Relief Base Camp" at the village directly opposite the disaster site where the victims are being sheltered in makeshift tents. The on-site team leaders are Vai Ruma and Boe Nou.

Neighbours and friends, who themselves are struggling to get by, and kind townspeople are providing food and water. Consider also that the victims will not only need immediate food and shelter, but everything else needed for basic day to day living - e.g. toiletries, clothes, sanitary napkins, spectacles, medicines, and ultimately - new houses. Their lives have been torn asunder and full recovery will take a long time and a lot of money.

A special bank account has been established by the HVFAC for funds raised. The signatories to this account are Vagi Daera, Rarua Tau, Hebou Ao and Agi Reva. All 4 signatories are victims who have lost their homes in the fire. They have been carefully selected to represent all the families affected by the fire disaster to be the signatories of the Appeal Account. To ensure transparency the cheque book for the appeal account will be held in a secure location by the co-chairs (Dadi Toka & Lohia Boe Samuel) of the appointed committee and the accounts will be acquitted once the objectives of the appeal are reached.

As requested by the families affected, the final objective of this appeal is to rebuild the houses lost and damaged.

Photo credit: Dadi Toka Jr.