People living in provinces in the Highlands Region and the Southern Coastal Region of Papua New Guinea (PNG) are expected to be impacted more by the onslaught of the extreme El Niño condition that is already upon the pacific region.
This was announced by the Minster for National Disaster and Emergency Dr. Billy Joseph, who further said that the National Government remains committed to ensuring that PNG is prepared and ready to respond to any challenges that may arise from this developing El Niño event. However, he did not disclose just how much funding support the State will be providing to support impacted areas.
The minister made the revelation after receiving assessment reports from a multi- sectoral Technical Assessment Team deployed by the National Disaster Center in May to verify the situation on the ground and assess the level of preparedness of provinces that were currently under drought watch and drought alert.
The assessment team comprised representatives from key government agencies and partner organisations.
“The assessment confirmed emerging dry conditions across parts of the Highlands Region, including reduced rainfall, declining water sources, moisture stress on food gardens, and growing concerns over food and water security,” the minister said in a statement that he released.
He further stated that the assessment concluded that there is a likelihood of a drought emergency. It highlighted the need for proactive preparedness measures and early interventions to mitigate the potential impacts of a developing El Niño event.
“These findings reinforce the importance of early action by all levels of government, communities, and stakeholders to strengthen preparedness and resilience before conditions deteriorate further,” he said.
The current forecast indicates that these conditions may have adverse impacts on:
Water availability for communities;
Food production and agricultural activities;
Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services;
Hydropower generation and energy supply;
Transport networks and other critical services; and
Public health and community livelihoods.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Centre (NDC) is urging all national agencies, Provincial Administrations, Provincial Disaster Committees, District Development Authorities, development partners, business houses, churches, civil society organisations, and local communities to coordinate their preparedness arrangements and take early action to minimise the potential impacts of El Niño.
The Provincial Disaster Centres are also encouraged to coordinate preparedness activities within their respective jurisdictions and maintain close communication with the NDC.
The NDC, in collaboration with the National Weather Service and other key stakeholders, will continue to monitor the evolving situation and provide regular updates to the public.
“I urge all citizens, community leaders, churches, and private sector partners to take this advisory seriously and begin preparing for possible dry conditions in the months ahead. Early preparedness, coordinated planning, and collective actions will be critical in safeguarding lives, livelihoods, food security, water security, and essential services,” said the minister.
Meantime, the PNG National Weather Service has confirmed that El Niño conditions are now established and likely to persist until at least the end of the year.
