Residents of Molboi Village in Northwest Santo, whose homes were severely damaged by a landslide in January 2025, are currently unable to relocate due to a land dispute. The ongoing argument over relocation sites has left the affected villagers stranded and in urgent need of assistance.

In an interview with VBTC News, Watson Viran, the head chief of the community safety team in Northwest Santo, explained the situation. He revealed that following the landslide disaster, villagers from Molboi, along with neighboring communities like Pauru and Matalip, have been unable to move to other areas due to disputes over the land they are supposed to relocate to.

“There are disagreements within the area they are supposed to move to,” Chief Viran stated. “I’ve been informed that the landowner has raised concerns about the Namele area, and the issue needs to be resolved before an assessment team can be sent to find alternative solutions. Right now, Namele is a major point of contention.”

Mr. Viran emphasized the dire need for help, particularly for farming and gardening, which have been severely impacted by the disaster. He called on the chiefs, local government, the province, and the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) to intervene and assist at the community level.

“The people of Molboi Village need urgent help,” he said. “We need the government and NDMO to conduct assessments and provide tapuleins and food supplies to the affected residents.”