PNG disaster authorities activate emergency response as El Niño threatens food supplies

 Papua New Guinea's National Disaster Centre has activated its emergency response arrangements after the National Weather Service officially declared an El Niño climatic event this month, raising concerns over worsening drought and frost across several parts of the country.

The declaration has prompted disaster officials to begin nationwide preparedness measures, with provincial disaster offices instructed to activate their emergency committees while assessments continue in affected areas.

Food gardens become destroyed by frost in the Highlands Region of Papua New Guinea/Photo suppled

National Disaster Centre director Lason Mana said the National Emergency Operations Centre had already been activated and advisories had been sent to provincial authorities to begin local response activities.

He said although El Niño is regarded as a long-term weather pattern rather than a sudden natural disaster, the effects on farming communities, food production and the environment require immediate attention.

Assessment teams are already on the ground in the Highlands, where warnings had been issued before the official El Niño declaration. Authorities are now waiting for provincial reports to establish the extent of the damage.

The worst reports so far have come from parts of Southern Highlands and Western Highlands provinces, where severe frost has destroyed food gardens and damaged cash crops relied upon by rural communities.

Mr Mana said no emergency funding had yet been released, although a submission seeking financial assistance had been lodged with the National Executive Council for consideration. Meanwhile, the National Disaster Centre is coordinating its response with United Nations agencies, the Department of Agriculture and Livestock and the National Weather Service, focusing on food and water security while provinces implement their contingency plans.

"Each province has their own provincial systems and they have their provincial emergency operations centers as well. At the national level, we will be coordinating especially food and water security here."

"We are working with all United Nations (UN) agencies, as they are part of the National Emergency Operations Centre."