Project Airborne lifts off
The next phase of KTF’s COVID-19 response, Project Airborne, has lifted off to ensure an ongoing supply of vital resources and awareness materials are supplied to the operations we support - aid posts, schools and colleges - across Oro, Central and Western provinces.
Logistics play a huge part in our activities; unprecedented global demand for basic hygiene and PPE products means our regular supply chains are restricted and limited transport options whilst Papua New Guinea operates under a State of Emergency mean our programs teams have had to be creative in their thinking.
Wherever possible, supplies are being sourced as close to their end destination as possible, supporting local businesses and minimising transport needs and footprint. Failing that, products are ordered in Port Moresby or even in Australia and beyond for those vital but hard-to-find items.
We’ve established supply hubs in our offices in Sydney and Port Moresby, and at our college campus in Balimo and Kou Kou near Kokoda to source, allocate and distribute materials for distribution to the schools we support along the Kokoda Track, our 12 aid posts who are now at the front line of combating the virus spread in PNG, and our college campuses to keep our students safe. Detailed packing lists at every stage of the process have been key!
The remote location of our destinations usually makes transporting materials in and out a challenge. Adding a State of Emergency declaration, provincial border closures and significantly curtailed airline schedules has brought an additional level of complexity. Our teams have worked alongside all of our partners to get materials in any way they can; by commercial cargo flights, helicopter, barge and by foot with an extraordinarily dedicated group of porters from the Kokoda Track.
Working together, the supplies are arriving at their destination and those receiving them have the knowledge to share their use with their communities.
Project Airborne has been made possible with the generous support of a broad range of corporate and individual donors in Australia and PNG, and the ability for us to pivot our projects supported by the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP)’s PNG-Australia Partnership.