UNICEF has warned that the lives of thousands of children remain at risk in earthquake-ravaged Papua New Guinea.
A 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck the Pacific nation's mountainous interior on 26 February, followed by another two major earthquakes and nearly 100 aftershocks.
More than 145 people have been killed - amid concerns that an outbreak of disease will see this number jump further.
"Children's lives are in danger," said Karen Allen, UNICEF Representative for Papua New Guinea.
Makeshift accommodation in Pimaga, Papua New Guinea. Source: UNICEF
"With limited access to basic necessities, families are struggling to survive in crowded shelters, or to rebuild homes and food gardens."
Ms Allen's comments came as UNICEF delivered 23 metric tons of relief supplies, including tents and tarpaulins, water purification tablets, hygiene kits, blankets and learning kits.
Australia was among several countries and organisations that supported the UNICEF aid delivery.
Last week, the Papua New Guinean government said an estimated 270,000 people were in need of urgent assistance, including 125,000 children.
A statement by UNICEF said the organisation was particularly concerned about the increased risk of disease outbreak and malnutrition among children.
The statement said access to remote and isolated villages "remains a huge challenge" across vast and rugged terrain.
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Papua New Guinea already had low vaccination coverage and the world's fourth highest rate of chronically malnourished children.
Last week, head of emergency medicine at the government's Health Department Sam Yockopua told The National newspaper that "food-borne and water-borne diseases are just two of the many diseases that many may die from if we don't start addressing the issues now".
"For example, from one of the areas that health officers recently visited, 80 people came in with injuries caused by the earthquake, while more than 100 came in to be treated for food-borne and water-borne diseases."
Earthquakes are common in Papua New Guinea, which sits on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, a hotspot for seismic activity due to friction between tectonic plates.
- Additional reporting: AFP
