The United States Embassy will provide US$100,000 (K269, 541) to help provide relief to the drought and frost affected areas of the country.
The US Embassy in a statement announced today that the US Agency for International Development’s (USAID) and Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) awarded $100,000 to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in disaster assistance for Papua New Guinea’s Highlands Region.
The National Disaster Office has stated that more than a million people in the populous Highlands Region are affected by El Niño.
As the impact of the 2015-2016 El Niño affected vulnerable communities in Papua New Guinea, recent periods of frost and drought damaged croplands, which in turn led people in some areas, including the Highlands Region, to experience food shortages and highlighted the need for greater water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programming.
USAID/OFDA regional advisers, together with disaster management officials, members of the National Agricultural Research Institute, and IOM staff travelled to the Highlands provinces to assess the extreme conditions.
USAID/OFDA determined that frost and drought affected areas required food help, agricultural inputs, and increased WASH support to include programs to raise awareness regarding safe treatment and storage of drinking water.
The US Government continues to work closely with the government of Papua New Guinea and non-governmental organisation partners like IOM to deliver relief aid and to identify the most effective ways to immediately help those people affected by the El Niño event.
The US Government expressed its ongoing support and assistance to the people of Papua New Guinea who have been affected by El Niño.
Picture courtesy of U.S Embassy.