Eight Million in Papua New Guinea Face Drought Crisis as Rivers Dry Up

Approximately 8 million people in Papua New Guinea are currently affected by extreme drought conditions driven by a strengthening El Niño climate pattern. A coalition of churches, trade unions, and business groups has declared the situation a national crisis, citing a lack of coordinated government action to protect vulnerable populations.

The drought began to intensify in June when the PNG National Weather Service officially declared the onset of El Niño. Assistant director Kasis Inape noted that much of the country was already experiencing dry conditions at that time. Inape explained that warm tropical waters, which typically provide rain to the region, have shifted east, leaving the archipelago starved of moisture.

Since August, some areas have received less than 25% of their usual rainfall. Inape warned that the El Niño may shorten the wet season, which normally runs from November to April. He stated that two months of rain would be insufficient for crops to grow or for water levels to recover adequately.

In rural highland areas, the impact on daily life has been severe. Emilly Meren, a humanitarian projects manager at CARE International, reported that families are rationing food to one meal per day. She noted that women and girls are bearing a heavier burden, traveling three to four hours to secure water and food while facing increased risks of harassment.

Local residents describe the physical changes in their environment. Martha Zureno, a resident of Leklu village, said all local rivers, including one behind her home, have dried up. She and her children now walk miles daily to fetch water for cooking and drinking. Zureno reported that their family crops have died, and panning for gold, a primary income source for many locals, has become difficult without water.

Infrastructure and services are also straining under the dry conditions. In Bulolo district, smaller rivers have vanished, leaving families without water for basic needs. Theophil Zarack, a local resident, said schools and health centers are operating on half-days, with some clinics refusing inpatients due to water shortages. In the capital, Port Moresby, PNG Power has implemented planned blackouts as falling dam levels have cut hydropower generation. The utility company expects these disruptions to last up to 10 months.

Prime Minister James Marape has directed provincial and district authorities to prepare for a prolonged dry season. He stated that the cabinet is reviewing financial instructions to ensure districts can respond to disasters as they occur. Peter Aitsi, co-chair of the Community Coalition Against Corruption, urged the government to conduct proper assessments of the impacts, noting that while urban centers have been shielded so far, the situation could change with continued power cuts and food shortages.

A destructive hailstorm in Enga province earlier this month buried sweet potatoes under ice, further compounding food scarcity issues. George Iki, president of the Sambe Unity Development Association, said the ice damage exacerbated the existing crisis. Aitsi added that smoke haze from fires in Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, fueled by El Niño, has recently covered the capital.