Remote Hela community welcomes MAF support

The Kulie Yokana community in Kopiago, Hela Province gathers at the airstrip when MAF landed recently. (NBC News)

Speaking during a recent visit to the Kulie Yokana community in the Koroba-Lake Kopiago District, Pastor Toliman Siape of the Christian Apostolic Fellowship has thanked MAF for its ongoing operations in Hela province.

The Missionary Aviation Fellowship [MAF] in Hela Province continues to bring relief and hope to the isolated population.

Pastor Toliman says that without the air service, thousands of people would face severe daily hardships and near-total isolation.

"It is not only Kopiago-MAF plays an essential role across the country by airlifting essential goods, medical supplies, educational materials, and passenger travel to the outside world," Pastor Siape said.

"Without this service, our people would lead lives of immense struggle, completely cut off from basic necessities."

Pastor Toliman noted that MAF adjusts its airfares to accommodate rural villagers who have limited access to economic opportunities and cash-generating activities.

Locals gather around an MAF aircraft that brought in goods to remote Kulie Yokana. (Image: Supplied)

He also commended the Kulie Yokana community for taking ownership of their development by hand-building their local airstrip to make MAF flights possible.

He urged the people of Hela Province to adopt a spirit of self-reliance rather than relying solely on state intervention, encouraging communities to initiate local projects to attract government support.