SISSANO, Papua New Guinea, July 18 (Reuters) - Survivors of three tsunamis that killed at least 2,500 people in Papua New Guinea a year ago never received aid money promised by the government, aid workers said.

Former Papua New Guinea prime minister Bill Skate, who resigned on July 7 under mounting criticism over the country's desperate economic situation, promised 2 million kina (US$1.38 million) to help rebuild fishing communities in Sanduan province devastated by the July 17 disaster.

"The two million from Skate never

Recent Beta Footage available of reconstruction work
Aid worker back from assessment mission available for Interview.

Community Aid Abroad's information officer, Nicole Haslam, has just returned from an assessment mission to the area affected by the tsunami on July 17, 1998.

The tsunami affected the North West Coast of PNG, totally destroying houses, medical clinics, schools and instantly killing over 2000 people. Community Aid Abroad responded immediately to this emergency, and continues to provide support in the year following

Survivors will gather on the beaches, their former village sites, for religious and traditional ceremonies on 17 July ending the formal one-year mourning period following the tsunami (tidal wave) disaster which struck the Aitape region on the northern coast of Papua New Guinea.
Over 2200 people were killed and almost ten thousand were displaced when three enormous tidal waves - up to 15 metres in height, travelling at a speed of more than 100 kilometres per hour - crashed into the coastline. The Papua New Guinea Red Cross, supported

Volunteers helping to rebuild areas of Papua New Guinea hit by last year's tsunami disaster say they've been hindered by theft and hijacking of vehicles.

Rotary International's PNG deputy governor, Richard Knox, says some people in the Aitape district have stolen tools and equipment, and even hijacked a car which they held for ransom.

Mr Knox says these acts have been committed by a small minority of people -- but the victims have been volunteers from overseas and this portrays a bad image of Papua New Guinea overseas.

Mr Knox made the comments after accepting