July 22, 1998

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. ---- CONGRESSMAN FALEOMAVAEGA REQUESTS UNITED STATES AID FOR PNG DISASTER

CONGRESSMAN ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT HE HAS CONTACTED SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT, REQUESTING THAT THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PROVIDE AID TO THE DISASTER-STRICKEN CITIZENS OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA.

IN A LETTER TO SECRETARY ALBRIGHT, FALEOMAVAEGA STATED, "I AM WRITING IN RESPONSE TO THE TRAGIC DISASTER THAT STRUCK THE NORTHWEST COAST OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA THIS PAST FRIDAY. AS YOU ARE AWARE, AN EARTHQUAKE REGISTERING 7 ON THE RICHTER SCALE TRIGGERED A SERIES OF KILLER TIDAL WAVES ESTIMATED UP TO 30 FEET HIGH. THE TSUNAMIS DESTROYED THE MAJOR SHORELINE VILLAGES OF AITAPE, NIMAS, AROP, SISSANO AND WARAPU, WHILE RUNNING INLAND UP TO A MILE."

THE CONGRESSMAN NOTED, "THE NATURAL DISASTER HAS RESULTED IN AN HUMANITARIAN CRISIS. ALTHOUGH THE OFFICIAL DEATH TOLL STANDS AT 1,600 AS OF TODAY, THE WEST SEPIK PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR PROJECTS THAT AT LEAST 3,000 PEOPLE WERE KILLED. OF THE 10,000 RESIDENTS IN THE STRICKEN AREA, OVER 6,000 ARE STILL MISSING."

"FOR THE THOUSANDS OF SHOCKED SURVIVORS," CONTINUED FALEOMAVAEGA, "THEIR HOMES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED AND THEIR POSSESSIONS LOST. THEY HAVE BEEN DISPLACED WITHOUT SHELTER AND MEANS OF SUPPORT."

IN HIS LETTER THE CONGRESSMAN CONCLUDED, "SECRETARY ALBRIGHT, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY URGE THAT THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT IMMEDIATELY OFFER WHATEVER ASSISTANCE MAY BE AVAILABLE TO AID THE SEARCH AND RELIEF EFFORTS FOR THE STRICKEN CITIZENS OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA. THE EARLY PROVISION OF $25,000 IN U.S. ASSISTANCE BY AMERICAN AMBASSADOR ARMA JANE KARAER WAS A MODEST START AND MUCH APPRECIATED. HOWEVER, FURTHER UNITED STATES PARTICIPATION WITH THE RESCUE OPERATION BEING MOUNTED BY AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND IS BOTH NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE."