Papua New Guinea in El Nino

The Director for PNG National Weather Service Mr Samuel Maiha told a joint press conference today that the country is in El-Nino now and the country is going to be affected very severely over the next four months.

Mr Maiha said predictions in terms of its indicators confirmed that it will continue into March, April and May next year.

He said its effect will see no or very little rainfall and most places will become dry as we are experiencing today and 85% of the population will face water shortages, bad planting season for crops and disease outbreaks.

He said there will be risk of food security in rural areas and the immediate task right now is to have some disaster relief delivered to areas affected so far and also make available funds for assessments to establish areas of priorities.