The acting Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Dr Puka Temu, says he believes there will be big improvements in getting aid around flood battered Oro Province over the next day or so.
The Province's Governor, Suckling Tamanabae, has been critical of the slow response, saying people are continuing to die as they wait for food and water.
Dr Temu says he sympathises with the governor but says the Government is doing all it can given the country's lack of infrastructure and private sector capacity.
He says the arrival of three Australian Air Force helicopters today will be a major boost.
"We are only using two helicopters - private helicopters - which is not sufficient to go at the speed that we would all want. We are doing everything we can within our capacity, so in the the next 24 (to) 48 hours there will be a lot more supplies reaching the people."