Eight million face PNG drought crisis

Up to eight million people in Papua New Guinea are currently suffering from extreme drought conditions driven by a historic El Niño event. The dry spell has triggered simultaneous shortages of food, water, and electricity, disrupting daily life and essential services across the Pacific nation.

A coalition of churches, trade unions, and business groups has declared the situation a national crisis. The group states that there is no coordinated plan in place to protect vulnerable communities from the worsening effects of the climate pattern. The PNG National Weather Service confirmed the onset of El Niño in June, noting that a large portion of the population was already affected at that time.

Kasis Inape, the assistant director of the national weather service, explained that the shift of warm tropical waters to the east has starved the country of rain. Because the nation relies on rainfall for subsistence farming, the lack of precipitation has directly impacted food production. Some regions have received less than a quarter of their usual rainfall since August.

In rural highlands, families are rationing food to one meal per day, according to Emilly Meren, a humanitarian projects manager at CARE International. She reported that women and girls are traveling three to four hours to source water and food, exposing them to increased risks of harassment. Meren also cited reports of transactional sex occurring within communities as families struggle to meet basic needs.

Local residents describe severe impacts on their daily routines. In Bulolo district, Theophil Zarack noted that many schools and health centers are operating only half a day. In Leklu village, Martha Zureno stated that local rivers have dried up, forcing her family to walk miles each afternoon to fetch water. She added that all crops in their gardens have died, and even gold panning has become difficult without water.

In the capital Port Moresby, PNG Power has implemented planned electricity blackouts due to falling dam levels. The utility company warns that disruptions could last up to ten months as it manages water releases to maintain the city's supply. Prime minister James Marape has directed provincial authorities to prepare for a prolonged dry season and is examining financial arrangements to support disaster responses.

A destructive hailstorm in Enga province earlier this month further reduced food supplies by burying sweet potatoes under ice. Peter Aitsi, co-chair of the Community Coalition Against Corruption, said the government must conduct proper assessments of the impacts, particularly in rural areas where the effects are most acute.