Port Moresby – Three months after the eruption of Mount Bagana volcano that displaced thousands of people in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB)  in Papua New Guinea, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in line with the Government efforts, recently helped the entire affected populations recover and safely return home.  

Since the volcanic activities surrounding the area subsided, the Autonomous Bougainville Government had been facilitating the return of the displaced communities to their homes. IOM, alongside district disaster management teams comprised of the police, district officials and community representatives, worked tirelessly to assist the affected populations in going back to where they lived before the eruption.  

IOM’s efforts to address the mobility aspect and well-being of displaced populations included the provision of logistics, delivery of core relief items, Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) services, and improving access to safe drinking water.  

To date, all 3,920 persons displaced internally by the hazard have safely returned to their homes. 

The recovery response initiative established well-functioning care centres in Wakunai and Torokina Districts of the AROB. Such infrastructure ensured the displaced persons have access to healthcare, as well as life-saving services and protection while being on the move. 

To deploy assisting teams to the identified care centres in the AROB and deliver the services more effectively, IOM partnered with national and sub-national disaster centres. These centres also served as temporary communal shelters where people sought accommodation during displacement and received humanitarian assistance such as food, water and healthcare. 

“We worked closely with the Autonomous Bougainville Government and IOM colleagues in response planning. Our effort also extended to coordinating the delivery of services at the care centres,” said Robin Yakumb, Western Highlands Provincial Disaster Coordinator.  

“It is an opportunity for us to apply the knowledge and skills received from various trainings, including those delivered by IOM. I would also like to thank the Western Highlands Provincial Government and the National Disaster Centre for their coordination, support and continued partnership with IOM to enhance preparedness and response efforts of the local community,” he added. 

IOM’s response to the Mt. Bagana volcano eruption is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance.  

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For further information, please contact IOM Port Moresby, Peter Murorera, Tel: +675 321 36 55, Email: pmurorera@iom.int or Mohamud Omer, Tel: +675 321 36 55, Email: moomer@iom.int