A drive down the North Coast road in the Milne Bay Province will tell the story of just how much damage El Niño has already caused in a short time.
What was once the Huhuna waterfall is now nothing. The mighty Deledele river has been reduced to just a small pool of water. Most rivers have run completely dry.
Many markets have closed and gardens are turning out damaged taros and cassavas from the scorching heat.
Locals at every village told the same story of the everyday struggle to survive.
Pastor Derek Gneiding said the people simply didn’t know where to go and what to do.
“We are starving. We haven’t had a drop of rain for months now. Every day we dig for water. We walk about a kilometre every day to search for fresh water and food.
“Children are getting sick every day with the flu, diarrhoea and sore eyes brought about by the long drought. Life is very hard for us,”said Gneiding.
