Help to purchase Water Purification Units for Sepik Disaster

The Momase group in Melbourne in collaboration with the Papua New Guinea Australia Association Victoria (PNGAAV) is organizing this Fundraiser to purchase water purification units for selected disaster impacted communities along the Sepik River of East Sepik Province in Papua New Guinea.

The communities along the Sepik River were severely affected by a double disaster of a 6.9 magnitude earthquake and monsoon flood on 24th March which lasted until April 2024. This event caused significant damage to thousands of households resulting in deaths, loss of homes, belongings, pets, and food gardens due to flooding and high water levels.

In the aftermath of this double disaster, the communities are struggling to recover with limited relief supplies such as food, shelter, clothing, water containers, and medical supplies from government bodies and other NGOs.

Despite the efforts of governments and NGOs in providing emergency relief supplies, the lack of access to clean and safe drinking water remains a pressing issue. There is no clean drinking water, many people are suffering from diarrhoea. Men, women, and children are consuming, cooking and washing from the contaminated Sepik River, putting them at high risk of contracting waterborne diseases that could lead to even more fatalities.

We aim to raise sufficient funds to purchase four water purification units, which will generate safe drinking water for 500 to 1000 individuals in selected disaster-stricken areas. Each purification unit has the capacity to produce clean drinking water at a rate of up to 1000 litres per hour, with a cost of approximately $5,000 per unit. We will work with a local Rotary club in the impacted East Sepik Province to deliver and install the water purification systems through your donations.

By supporting this course, we can provide access to clean and safe drinking water to impacted communities in dire need to rebuild and recover. All funds raised will go towards the acquisition, transportation, and installation of water purification systems.