|PIC1|Salvation Army staff in Papua New Guinea are bringing urgent relief to victims of the widespread flooding caused by Cyclone Guba.

For the last week and a half, whole swathes of the eastern part of the country have been submerged by the flooding and high tides brought on by Guba and aid agencies have struggled to bring humanitarian aid, including food, water, shelter and medicine to remote areas.

The Salvation Army's Captain Gaba is leading a team of health workers and volunteers in Popondetta, the capital of Ora Province, with only limited resources, as efforts continue to stem infections of water-borne diseases such as cholera, dysentery and malaria.

Lieut-Colonel James Condon, Chief Secretary of The Salvation Army's Papua New Guinea Territory, reported: "The Salvation Army has secured supplies to take to the disaster area which include food, shelter, fresh water, medicine, mosquito nets and clothing.

"We are addressing the communities' immediate needs as the first step along the road to recovery from Cyclone Guba."

The Papua New Guinea National Disaster Centre has counted 163 dead so far and around 13,000 displaced. Around 1,000 homes are believed to have been destroyed.

The country has been in an official state of emergency since last Monday.