Highlands Region Drought Frost Rapid Assessment

NATIONAL DISASTER CENTRE HIGHLANDS REGION DROUGHT & FROST DISASTER RAPID ASSESSMENT REPORT - 2015

HIGHLANDS REGION – DROUGHT & FROST ASSESSMENT REPORT COMPILED BY: NATIONAL DISASTER DROUGHT RESPONSE TEAM

TABLE OF CONTENT

A. Composition of Assessment Team B. Map of critically affected areas in the Highlands Provinces 1. BACKGROUND 1.1. Introduction 1.2. Conduct of the Drought Response Team 2. DEMOGRAPHY AND NATURE OF DROUGHT AND FROST DISASTER IN THE HIGHLANDS REGION

3. STATISTICS OF AFFECTED DISTRICT INS EACH HIGLANDS PROVINCE

4. IMPACT OF THE DROUGHT & FROST DISASTER 4.1. Environment 4.2. Economic Activity 4.3. Water & Sanitation 4.4. Health & Nutrition 4.5. Education 4.6. Agriculture & livestock 4.7. Logistics 4.8. New Emerging issues 5. RESPONSE & RECOVERY 5.1 Red Cross 5.2 NARI 5.3 DMT (Clusters) 5.4 Local communities

5.5 Provincial Disaster

5.6 National

6 RECOMMENDATION 6.1 Short term 6.2 Long term

7 CONCLUSION ANNEX I. ESITIMATED FOOD RELIEF AND OPERATIONAL BUDGET II. PNGDF RELIEF OPERATION PLAN & BUDGET III. Terms of Reference

A. MAPS OF CRTICALLY AFFECTED PROVINCE

(Map showing Unggai Bena District) (Map Showing Kundiawa, Simbu Porvince)

(Map Showing Kandep District - ENGA) (Map Showing Tambul – WHP

B. COMPOSITION OF NATIONAL DISASTER RESPONSE TEAM

The National Disaster Drought Response team selected by the National Disaster Response Committee were representative from various agencies. The composition of the team is: (i) Mr. Thomas Ninkama –Research & Assessment Officer – NDC (Team Leader) (ii) Mr. Jimmy Mindipi – Land Use Adviser, Department of Agriculture & Livestock (iii) Major Peter Waiaki – Joint Operations Command, PNG Defence Force (iv) Mr. Ben Kapa – Public Health Surveillance & Emergency Response, Department of Health (v) Mr. Kasis Inape – Assistant Director, National Weather Service (vi) Mr. Edwin Talapilya – Senior Works Engineer, Department of Works (vii) Mr. Kud Sitango – Program Manager, NARI Highland Region (viii) Mr. Michael Kokom – PNG Red Cross (ix) Mr. Wonesai Sithole – IOM & UN DMT Cluster Rep The team assembled and departed on Sunday, 23rd of August, 2015 at 08:30 am in Pom and arrived in Western Highlands at 10:30 am.

Figure 1. Team Photo of the Assessment team in Lagaip & Kandep

ii. Travel Itinerary and conduct of Highlands Response Team

Day Date Details of travel Activity details Other remarks 1 Sunday Travel from POM to Hagen Team met at NARI Tambul Office Overnight at Hagen 23/08/15 Travel from Hagen to Tambul Team Met Tambul DA and District Disaster Team Assessed upper Kagul LLG, Upper Nebliyer and Lower Kagul areas in Tambul Nebliyer District. 2 Monday The team met with NDC acting The team were briefed the PA WHP after a brief introduction Overnight at Wabag 24/08/15 director Mr Mose and went with made by Mr. Mose. After the brief the team left for Wabag and Lupa Motel him to brief the PA WHP Mr later in the evening the team had a brief with deputy PA ENGA Joeseph Neng

3 Tuesday Travelled to Wabag, Wabag Team left with PDC ENGA and caught up with Overnight at Mendi 25/08/15 district, Sirunki, Laigam, DA Laigaip Pogera, assessed parts of Wabag Town lodge Kandep district district Sirunki Basin, Laigam Assessed Lian ranges. Later caught up with DA Kandep and assessed Kandep Basin. Left Kandep and rtavelled Kandep Mendi road to Mendi and also assessed Karinz in Mendi

4 Wednesday Travelled thru Imbongu Team assessed parts of imbongu to Ialibu/Pangia Overnight at Hagen 26/08/15 district to Ialibu Pangia and and caught up with Ialibu Pangia District Airport Motel Kagua Administration and had a brief with the district team at district office. Left Ialibu station for Mt Hagen

5 Thursday Travelled to Komo Magarima, Team landed in Magarima had a brief with DA Overnight at Kundiawa 27/08/15 Kutubu, and Kagua Erave for and assessed the affected areas and departed Wilhelm Hotel aerial assessment on the ADF Magarima for Kutubu and Kagua Erave. Team chopper returned at 11:00 am and departed for Jiwaka Province and met PDC Jiwaka and had a brief with him and assessed parts of Jiwaka and headed to Simbu travelling Kerowhagi way assessing parts of Kerowhagi.

6 Friday Team conducted aerial Team returned and had brief with Simbu Team separated to two 28/08/15 assessment using ADF Provincial Administrator and Provincial Disaster hotels one Immanuel chopper again throughout the Coordinator and later departed for Goroka EHP. Lodge and others at Province for one hour and Arrived at Goroka to find out that public servant Pacific Gardens Hotel returned not at work due to Administrative impasses. However manage to contact PDC and conducted assessment to Unggai Bena District

7 Saturday Team rested to finalize report Team met and debriefing in the evening to finalize Overnight at the two 29/08/15 report same hotels

8 Sunday Travelled back to POM and Team left for POM and Hagen POM team returned and 30/08/15 Tambul/Hagen Hagen left for WHP

1. BACKGROUND

1.1. Introduction

The National Disaster Committee after receiving numerous reports from the respective Provincial Administration and the media about the recent drought and frost which has severely affected certain districts in the Highlands Provinces have deployed a National Disaster Drought response team comprising of various National Technical Agencies were deployed to the region. The team departed on the 23rd of August, 2015. The objective of the national response team was to:

(i) Assess the extent of damage to determine level of immediate and long term assistance required by the affected communities. The sectors to be assessed includes; food and water security, health issues, education and economic sectors

(ii) Carry out capacity assessment on the capabilities & responsiveness of respective provincial governments to manage the effects of El-Niño

(iii) Carryout capacity assessment on the capabilities of the private sectors companies operating in the Provinces to meet demands of the National and Provincial government relief supplies requirement.

(iv) Carryout awareness on drought copy mechanisms and strategies with the Provincial Disaster Government and affected communities

(v) Assist PDC establish and strengthen existing government structures at the Provincial, District and Local Level for effective coordination of humanitarian relief operations.

2. NATURE OF THE DROUGHT AND FROST DISASTERS IN THE HIGHLANDS REGION

Papua New Guinea is a land of many climate extremes due to its locality to the warmest seas found anywhere on the face of the earth. This warmest ocean waters often referred to as the ‘warm pool’ acts as the heat engine that drives the climate of this country. Due to the proximity of the moisture source, the country experiences all year round rainfall. Unfortunately, during an El Niño year, this warm pool migrates towards the Central and Eastern Pacific and countries such as Chile and Peru in South America receives more than usual rainfall whilst countries in Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea are starved of rainfall.

El Niño is a normal climatic event which has a return period of 3 to 7 years. This slow onset phenomena, once fully developed, tend to last for 10 months or more depending on its strength and the prevailing conditions conducive to its sustenance. Unfortunately, not all El Niño events are alike but they tend to exhibit a general pattern. Because it is a slow onset phenomena, it generally tends to get organized in Autumn (Feb,Mar,Apr), mature in Spring (Aug,Sep,Oct) and dissipates towards the following Winter. The likely impacts on the country’s rainfall is that parts of the Southern Coastal regions such as the Central Province, Milne Bay, Gulf and Western Provinces and parts of Chimbu and Morobe experiences dry spells as early

6 as Autumn. This reduced rainfall continues into winter and spring where rest of the country is affected. The normal onset of the wet season during summer is delayed therefore we normally receive poor rains until the drought is broken by heavy falls in autumn with the arrival of the normal wet season.

The worst effect of El Niño phenomena is droughts which can lead to serious shortages of food supply. Due to the absence of clouds and very calm conditions at night, frosts are a common occurrence especially at high altitude areas in excess of 2200m above sea level.

Papua New Guinea has been experiencing this phenomenon ever since our ancestors settled on this land but according to recent memory, people could only recall the events of 1972 and 1997. These were very strong events which caused severe droughts and frosts in the highlands. The event of 1982 caused mass migration from the people of Kandep to lower areas unaffected by frost. The 1997 event also produced droughts in the highlands and bush fires were common. Furthermore, the 1997 El Niño event was regarded as the strongest phenomena on record because of the magnitude of the destruction it caused worldwide.

PNG National Weather Service through its media release dated 7 June 2015 declared that this year would be an El Niño year. It also predicted that the 2015 event had the potential to surpass the “El Niño of the century” event of 1997.

Drought is a slow onset event and the recent dry spells experienced throughout the country is expected to continue into September where it is predicted to reach its peak and thereafter dissipates. The prolonged dry spell together with the absence of clouds and calm nights were responsible for the frost occurrences in the high altitude areas of Tambul, Upper and lower Kaugel, Upper Nebilyer, Sirunki, Kandep, Laiagam, Lai Valley, Upper Mendi, Ialibu and parts of Pangia. There were two separate incidences of frost that hit the above mentioned areas. The first frost incidence occurrence within a space of 1 week apart and the climate data confirmed that it occurred on the 19 and 26 July 2015 respectively. As per the data, the second frost occurred consecutively for 4 days from the 11-14 August 2015. The damage caused by the first occurrence was minor but the second occurrence was very destructive in its path.

When conducting our assessment throughout the Highlands Provinces and districts we have discovered that the stage of the drought was in category three (3) but with the inducement of the frost in many parts of the high altitude flat plain areas in the affected district, this category has increased to category 5. Furthermore, the El Niño induced frost in the past was only isolated to the frost prone areas of Tambul valley, Sirunki and Kandep valley and Ialibu valley. This year’s event was extraordinary. The frost encroached into unknown territories such as Upper Mendi, Pangia and Magarima to name a few making this year’s event potentially the strongest on record which may confirm our prediction.

3. STATISTICS OF AFFECTED DISTRICTS IN EACH OF THE HIGLANDS PROVINCES

The recent El Nino induced frost in the highlands region has heavily impacted on the lives of many people living in high altitude areas of Tambul and Upper Nebilyer, Surinki, Laigaim, Kandep, Upper and Lower Wage, Karinz, Lai Valley, Upper Mendi, Imbongu, Ialibu, Pangia and Magarima. The National Disaster Response team which was deployed by the National Disaster Committee to conduct a rapid assessment to verify and confirm the extent of the damage were astonished by the magnitude and impact of the disaster that has destroyed many foods and drinking water in most of the areas the team has assessed. The table below reflects the areas visited by the team with its population and the levels of damages it has caused to the lives of the communities assessed.

(Table1: Statistics of food security and water with drought category in each district and Province)

N Name of Districts Population & Total Food Security Types of Category o per Province Districts Household Disaster affected Total Pop /by Stable food Impact Water Source Frost or 7 per family Drought 1 WHP 362,850 85,101 3 Tambul 75,000 11,000 Kaukau & All Creeks still Both 5 Upper Nebilyer 4, 000 600 English destroyed running Potatoes by Frost ENGA 432,045 3 Wabag District 3, 700 500 Kaukau & Food Creeks still Both 3 2 English gardens running but Potatoes affected with less volume Lagaip & Pogera 70,000 10,000 5 District Kaukau & All Certain creeks Both 1. Lagaip LLG 44,650 6, 400 English gardens running dry 2. Pilikambi 29, 981 4, 300 Potatoes destroyed LLG Kandep District 80,000 11,400 Same as Food Creeks Frost 5 1. Kandep LLG above gardens running 2. Wage LLG destroyed 3 SHP 510,245 3

Mendi Munhiu 144, 629 21, 000 Same as Food Source still Frost and 3 above gardens available drought partially destroyed Imbongu 106, 000 15, 000 Same as Food 5 above gardens destroyed Ialibu Pangia 63, 478 9, 000 Staple foods All All creeks Frost and 5 in short destroyed dried up Drought supply. by Frost & except big Drought river Kagua Erave 74, 139 10, 000 Staple food Food No proper Drought 3 running low gardens water source only affected 4 JIWAKA 343, 987 Drought

South Whagi 93, 000 13, 000 Staple foods Food Creeks and Drought 3 Rural in short gardens river beds supply affected dried up

5 SIMBU 376, 473 54, 000

Gumine District 56, 860 8, 000 Staple food Food Creeks dried Drought 5 in short gardens up supply destroyed Kund/Gembogl 78, 521 11, 000 Staple foods Food Nil water Drought 5 District in short gardens supply in & Frost supply destroyed Town and around surrounding Gembogl villages. area. Chuave 39, 000 6, 000 Staple crops Gardens No reliable Drought 3 affected affected water supply only SinaSina 56, 805 9, 000 As above As above Some rivers Drought 3 Yongomugl dried up only Salt Nomane 52, 159 7, 500 As above As above As above Drought 3 only Kerowhagi 93, 107 13, 000 As above As above As above Drought 3 only 6 EHP 580, 000 Ungai Bena 67, 125 10, 000 Staple crops Food Creeks dried Drought 3 District affected gardens up and water only affected level in rivers reduced Henganofi 63, 000 9, 000 As above As above As above Drought 3 District only 7 HELA 249, 449

Magarima 36,000 5, 000 All crops Food All creeks Frost and 5 affected gardens dried up Drought destroyed except rivers Total 3, 199, 036 1, 090, 518

3. IMPACT OF THE DISASTER

The impact of the recent El Nino induced frost has been very devastating, and it has affected the environment, the economic activities, agriculture & livestock, education sector, health sector, and creating new emerging issues. The situation will become devastating to all the sectors indicated below if the prolong dry season continue into the next three to four months. It will create massive economic disaster for all sectors in the communities, districts, Provinces and the country as a whole.

3.1. Environment

The impact of the drought and frost has defaced the natural vegetation in all the district that were affected by both drought and frost. The environment in the high altitude lowland areas are purely savannah and it’s only suitable for growing sweet potatoes, English potatoes and vegetable like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and carrots. Casuarina and other indigenous trees which grow well in those high altitude lowland valleys have been totally devastated by the frost. In areas where drought is slowly taking its precedence are witnessing water stress resulting in

9 certain trees and pandanus trees drying up. The general outlook of the environment has changed from green to brown which creates an environment conducive for wild bush fires. In many of the areas assessed bush fires have ignited and destroyed many houses and environment as well. The general habitat for wild life ecology will slowly diminished and they will further migrate to other areas conducive for them to live and breed. It is quite an unfortunate situation but the nature has its own way of recreating itself for the next generation.

rost

(Figure 2: Impact of frost in Mulitaka LLG- Enga Province) (Figure 3: Impact of frost in Kandep LLG- Enga Province)

3.2. Economic Activity

The main cash economy in the Highlands Province is growing of coffee for cash income. Coffee is grown in large plantation and in small holder blocks. It grows well in the low altitude areas of the Highlands Provinces but for those living in the high altitude areas their only form cash income activity is subsistence farming. In the high altitude areas the people grow English potatoes, cabbages broccoli and cauliflower to supply to all the market in the country. Many people in those areas have heavily invested in their farming activity and with the current frost situation all their investment and labor has been lost. These economic activity has been heavily affected and the supply of these local produces have declined and the prices at the local markets have soared.

There are signs of water stress in the coffee tree grown in the low altitude areas in the Highlands because of the prolonged drought and if the it continues for the next three to four months many plantation and small holder blocks will be affected and that will reduce the production of coffee for export affecting the our country’ economic outlook.

3.2.1 Inland Fisheries

The National Fisheries Authority have invested millions of Kina for inland Fish farming activities in the highlands. Many people have been motivated by the initiative and began fish farming apart from their normal subsistence farming activities. Inland fish were farmed as sources of protein and also for income purposes. However, with the impact of prolong dry spell many fish pond have dried out and others that had enough water the ponds are beginning to

see significant drop in the water level. These fish farm are severely affected and it will heavily impact the fisheries sector and all its investment will be badly affected.

3.3. Water & Sanitation

In most of the highlands Provinces small creeks and streams used for drinking have dried up and many people are using rivers to wash and drinks. It is really an unfortunate situation and lack of good water and proper sanitation can contribute too many communicable diseases such as typhoid, cholera, and many other diarrheal diseases. In most of the Districts and Provinces we have visited we noted the need for safe and adequate water supply was critical.

Below is a table reflecting Provinces and district requiring proper water and sanitation during the drought period.

Table 3: (Water and Sanitation needs)

Name of Districts Types of Water & sanitation Quantity Comments Province needs WHP Tambul/ Bow water for drinking & 15 Five bow waters and better Nebliyer sanitation sanitation to be constructed in the 3 LLG Simbu Kundiawa Pumping of main Simbu river to 1 Waters supply engineers town the booster station to the main required to do feasibility to tank for purification and cater for immediate water distribution needs Simbu Six Districts Require better water supply and 24 Four water supply system sanitation established for the six district in strategic location EHP Henganofi & Require bow water to be drill in 20 Construction of 20 bow water Ungai Bena the Ungai Bena and Henganofi in the two districts of EHP in valleys strategic location ENGA Kandep & Require both bow water and 20 Construction of Both bow Laigap Pogera better water supply system for water and better water supply drinking and sanitation in strategic location JIWAKA Anglimp Require bow and better water 9 Three major water supply South Whagi supply and sanitation in all the project in Minj, Kudjip and & North villages in the whagi valley Banz. Whagi Ialibu Pangia, Requires better water supply 10 Two Water supply system SHP and Imbongu system and bow water for one in Ialibu an done in drinking Imbongu and drilling of bow water if possible

HELA Magarima Requires better water supply 3 High School, Community system and bow water for School and Health Centre. drinking

The current status of water and sanitation observed during the visit to the affected sites are dare stage which is likely to increase in the drought and frost affected provinces because of the current poor status of the water and sanitation practices in the villages and districts visited.

3.4. Health & Nutrition

The general data on health and nutrition status of the population in the affected districts at the time of our visit were not available. However, rural health center in most of the districts does not have the capacity to respond or attend to water and food borne related diseases. The drought and the frost affected districts have affected drinking water sources mainly from wells and creeks which has prompted people to collect water from main rivers system to drink and other domestic uses has the potential to cause an outbreak of diseases.

It was also discovered that if the dry season continues it will trigger a lot of health issues resulting in poor nutrition. Many food stuff like be vegetables and fruits which are useful in dieting will be affected increasing the vulnerability of people to acquire secondary diseases due to weak immune system to fight against diseases. Many of the rural health centers in those affected districts needs to be capacitated to cater for massive outbreak of disease relating to food and water security. Though all the districts have health Centre’s it is important to ensure medical supplies are available to cater for any emergencies relating to water borne and food induced sickness.

3.5. Education

Many schools in the Highland Provinces have faced water shortage and schools have been closed for half day. The assessment team were also told that school children in Surinki, Lagaip and Kandep have not attending classes due to the frost affecting the family gardens and school children are unable to eat and attend class. The respective Education board in the Provinces have advised teachers to ensure classes are closed half day and allow students to go home. In areas where water is not an issue the school continues and finishes at its normal time.

Education is an important sector and if the prolong dry season continues many school children and schools will be affected. The only concern for parents living in the affected areas hit by frost is how can they be able to continue sustain their children to attend classes due to limited availability of the energy food such as Sweet potatoes and English Potatoes. The team discovered that all garden owned by individual families have completely been wiped out and many school children are wondering at home looking for food to eat.

3.6. Agriculture & Livestock

The recent prolong dry spell which resulted in the frost in the higher altitude areas with wild bush fires have impacted a lot on the agriculture and the livestock sector. The main staple food in the six Highlands Provinces are sweet potatoes (kaukau) and English potatoes which are mainly grown in the high altitude areas. Sweet potato is the only staple crop in the high altitude zone and is very sensitive to frost and with the massive record breaking frost experienced through these high altitude areas, it has completely destroyed (100%) the crop

12 allowing it to dry instantly. The tubers are still in the ground but it is the above ground biomass which is completely burned by the frost. The tubers will be consumed by the first three weeks after frost and if it rains during any time of the first three weeks the tubers will be rotten and tasteless for consumption by both human and domesticated animals.

There are some pockets of areas along the hill tops in certain ward areas in the frost affected districts which are not severely affected and sweet potato are seen to be growing, because of the surrounding of thick tree canopy as wind breakers which prevented the cold air. However, the crop has showed sign of water stress because of the dry season. The soil condition in those areas are not suitable for replanting or making new sweet potato gardens. The people have to wait for the rain to come before they start making new gardens. There will be severe shortages of new planting material because all the planting materials have been burned by the frost. Only vegetable such as brassicca species, wheat and peas survived the frost and still ok in drought affected areas. Sugarcane were burnt too.

Figure 3: ( Kaukau gardens in Tambul, Surinki and Kandep burned by frost)

3.6.1. Bush famine foods

The famine bush foods like the wild plants species which are found in the forest, near gardens and along rivers where the people often eat when there is no food like the wild breadfruit, panda nuts, ferns and water cress, wild beans are also destroyed by the frost. Only those that are high on the mountains are still surviving while those in the valleys has been completely wiped out by the frost changing the color of the natural vegetation into brown.

3.6.2. Livestock

Pig is the main livestock seen in all provinces and beside that there are sheep, goats, cows and village broiler chicken. The main pasture species consumed by the livestock’s are all burned and dried up by the frost and drought affecting feed supply in these high altitude and drought affected areas. Those domesticated animals feeding on sweet potatoes are affected and animal feeding on grasses are also affected by the drought.

3.6.3. Soil Moisture & cropping system/pattern

The optimum soil moisture levels which supports the crops to grow well has been reduced, the air and soil temperature has significantly increase in both the frost and drought affected areas hence soil moisture levels has been reduced at 40 to 50 cm soil depth and will further reduce if the drought prolongs and people will be struggling to make new gardens and all gardening will come to an halt. These will create a demand for more relief supplies for people to sustain their lives or they will be huge migration of people to towns and cities and other Provinces where food is still available and the soil moisture is good for gardening.

Figure 4: (Soil Moisture in Tambu, Simbu & Kandep )

3.7. Logistics & Communication

The Highlands Highway also known as Okuk Highway stretches from Lae linking all the seven Highlands Provinces. It is the lifeline for more than half of the PNG’s dense population. In essence, Highlands Highway provides access to very important economic and social activities. Economic activities include major extractive industries, agricultural cash crop exports, local cash crop transportation and marketing; and farming of animal husbandry have been the main stay for the population that is linked by the main supply route (MSR). Social services such as schools and health services are delivered through the use of this MSR.

The Highlands Highway stretches from Lae into the rugged highlands region with a distance of approximately 815 - 850 kilometres. The highway branches into two main supply route at Togoba junction in the Western Highlands Province. One leading to Enga Province where the MSR ceases at Porgera and the other leads into Southern Highlands and Hela Provinces. The highway further branches and ceases at Koroba/Lake Kopiago and Hides and Komo in the Hela Province.

All of the drought affected populous areas are accessible by sealed road especially in Tambul and Nebilyer (WHP), Lagaip and Kandep (Enga), Karenz, Ialibu/Pangia, Kagua and Upper Mendi (SHP). The feeder roads into other areas are only accessible by four-wheel drive

Apart from the major seaport and airport in Port Moresby, the highlands provinces rely on international standard port facility in Lae for all cargo ships, while the Nadzab airport in Lae and Kagamuga in Mt Hagen has large cargo aircrafts landing capacity. The Goroka, Mendi,

Wapenamanda and Tari airports are restricted to small to medium dash 8 landing capacity. All the airports have jet A1 fuel for refuel. The Kundiawa airport is currently undergoing maintenance and will be ready by end of 2016. Chartered choppers will be used in areas that are not accessible by road in parts of Southern Highlands and Enga.

Fuel supply to the highlands is constant and available in all provincial capital and some districts. Liaison with a suitable supplier in each province is recommended in order to secure an emergency fuel tank as reserve.

The Provincial disaster committee and district administrators and presidents at the Local Level Government (LLG) and councillors at the ward level in most of highlands provinces have identified state and church premises for storage and indicated their district headquarters as the distribution point. The security of warehouse or relief supplies containers are also considered for safe transportation of relief supplies from the provincial headquarters into the district distribution points and further delivered into respective areas in more coordinated manner.

The National Disaster Response team strongly advised Provincial and District Disaster Committees to utilise the existing three tier government system for effective coordination and timely distribution of relief supplies.

Effective communications is essential for resource mobilisation and better coordination and distribution of relief supplies in the region. Communication networks in all parts of towns and districts in the highlands can receive both voice and data networks provided by Digicel and B- Mobile. There are some populous affected areas that have no mobile network reception that can be mitigated by using satellite phones or military tactical communication.

3.8. New emerging issues

The new emerging issues that may rise from drought and frost affected areas is the increase migration of people from rural to urban areas and to nearby communities in the Provinces. The assessment team were told by several people from Kandep and Surinki area that such event struck them in 1972 and a massive number of people migrated to nearby communities and have settled permanently in those areas and others have migrated to settle in towns. The people in those affected districts mentioned that the recent event the superseded the kind of frost that was experienced in 1972 and caused major migration among people. Obviously the current disaster had severely affected their livelihood and if no relief assistance is provided to sustain them for the next nine month there is a high possibility of migration of people from the communities to major towns and cities or to other areas closer to them.

The drought induced frost has also created an environment conducive for more wildfires and if the dry season continues more wildfire will be also destroying homes and villages close to those areas. Most villages in Kandep Surinki and Ialibu Pangia have experienced wildfire destroying homes and these people also require shelter assistance apart from the food relief.

4. RESPONSE & RECOVERY

(i) Red Cross

The PNG Red Cross society have responded by deploying Mr. Michael Kokom an assessment officer based in Mt Hagen to accompany the Highlands response team to conduct further assessment into all the districts in the highlands provinces. They will be providing food relief during the disaster and seed distribution after the disaster to compliment government efforts where needs are required.

(ii) NARI

The National Agriculture Research Institute has responded by deploying Mr. Kud Sitango, a senior officer based in the high altitude research station in Tambul to accompany the Assessment Team to assess the extent of the damage done to food garden in several of the districts in the highlands provinces. NARI have indicated that in areas that are not hit by frost but is experiencing prolong dry spell, there is an urgent need to conduct food preservation awareness to those affected communities with seedlings and planting materials. NARI also further highlighted the need to continue its research to come up with drought and frost resistant and tolerant crops. The Assessment Team observed that only frost resistant crop that was coping well was the wheat plant.

( Figure 5: Frost resistant wheat grown at NARI research station at Tambul)

(iii) DMT (Clusters)

The Disaster Management Team (DMT) has responded positively towards the recent drought and frost situation affecting the people of this country. The objective of the DMT is to compliment government efforts and assist areas where external need is required and is requested through the government of Papua New Guinea. Representing DMT as part of the assessment team was Mr. Wonesai Sithole of IOM was with the team to assess and verify the extent of the damage inflicted by the drought and drought induced frost. The DMT will further respond at the request of the government to compliment government efforts and will work together during and after the disaster.

(iv) Districts & Local MP

In most of the Highlands districts visited their local MP’s have not committed any funds to assist them. However the opposition leader and member for Kandep has allocated K2 million

16 to assist his people. Kandep is one of the severely affected district hit by the recent El Nino induced frost and history have shown that when people are affected by such magnitude of disasters, they often migrate to others parts of Enga and SHP. This year’s event was extraordinary in that the effects were widespread making it difficult for anyone to migrate elsewhere. Therefore the assistance provided by the local MP will prevent his people from such activity if relief is planned and properly coordinated to sustain the lives of the people for the next nine months.

(v) Provincial Disaster

The respective Provincial Governments and their Administration are aware of the current disasters affecting their Provinces and they are working with the district administration team to come up with strategies to better coordinate the current disasters affecting their people. The response by each Highlands Provinces and districts have been overwhelming. The Enga Provincial government has established a frost appeal committee to raise funds and coordinate all relief activities, the Southern Highlands Governor have allocated K2 million and distribute K350, 000 to each districts. The Western Highlands, Hela, Jiwaka, Simbu and Eastern Highlands are yet to commit funds to support its people. However these Province have set up their coordination structure to better coordinate in the event the drought continues to the next three to four months.

(vi) National

The National Government have responded with an allocation of K5 million to assist the people affected by the recent frost and drought living in various district in the Highlands Provinces. The K5million allocated was made available to assist people in Tambul/Nebliyer district, Kandep, Lagaip Pogera, Ialibu Pangia, Simbu and Mendi Munhiu. However, the impact of the current disaster has affected many lives and requires more assistance from the National Government to assist those affected. The National Government has further approved K25 million to assist in furthering the initial response to families affected by the calamities. The National Government through the National Disaster Centre have deployed response team to further verify and assess the extent of damage and assist with planning the relief operations throughout the country.

5. CORDINATION 5.1. NDC

The coordination of the current relief operation will follow the National Disaster Operation structure which details the coordination from the National level to the Provincial level down further to the district and into the ward areas. All other international donors, partners, stakeholder will work according to the coordination structure established in the drought response plan. No NGOs or other agencies will work outside the existing structure to duplicate responsibilities but must work collaboratively to serve the people in their time of need. This will allow effective coordination and at the same it test the drought response plan and other plans to see if it’s workable.

5.2. PNGDF & Other stakeholder

The PNGDF will implement its civil humanitarian coordination structure to coordinated with ADF and maintain communication with NDC at its Emergency Operation Centre to provide advice and assistance on logistic and security of the relief operation. Other agencies may also implement their own coordination structure with donors but will maintain communication with NDC through the Emergency Operation Centre and dispatching of relief will coordinated by NDC through NEOC to Provinces and further into ward areas in their respective affected districts.

5.3. Disaster Management Team (DMT)

The Disaster Management team will use its own coordination structure to coordinate with donors and for assistance and will maintain communication with the National Disaster Emergency Operations Centre through a liaison officer who will be based at the NEOC. The liaison officer will only act on request by made by the government through the National Disaster Committee.

6. RECOMMENDATIONS

6.1 Short Term/Immediate Needs

(i) NDC through the National Government and respective Provincial Government and stakeholders to assist in providing immediate relief assistance of food supplies to those areas affected by frost and drought and categorized in category four and five to sustain the livelihood of the people for next 3- 6 months if the dry season continues.

(ii) NDC to recommend to the Government to provide carted water into distribution tanks for chlorination and purification to ensure the water is safe for drinking to severely affected areas in Simbu, Eastern Highland, WHP, ENGA and SHP to cater for their immediate water needs.

(iii) NDC to inform the department of Health to capacitate the rural hospitals in those drought and frost affected Provinces to prepare for any outbreak of water borne disease.

(iv) NDC to recommend to the Government to establish a Disaster Response Committees at the District level under the auspices of the District Development Authority, with the District Administrator as Chairman with sector representatives and church and women representatives.

(v) NDC to recommend to the Government for import tax exemptions including wharf age and handling on the import of relief supplies into the country by Donor Agencies during disaster emergencies.

(vi) NDC to recommend to the Government to direct rice supplies in the country to increase its import quota to meet the additional demand due to natural disaster situation. (vii) DAL/NARI to conduct awareness on food preservation for drought on areas which are still in category three (3) and provide training for DPI extension officers, key stakeholders and NGOs in the districts and provinces to empower them to conduct further awareness to be able to preserve for if the drought continues.

6.2 Long term

(i) NDC to recommend to the Government to fund and direct DAL to grow rice as part of the food security initiative to cater for its citizen during such calamities.

(ii) NDC to recommend to the Government to work closely with the Provincial Governments of those severely affected frost areas in Enga, SHP, WHP and Hela to immediately revive the wheat research station in Kandep and establish a new wheat farm and factory at Ialibu, Magarima and Tambul as part of the coping mechanism for frost prevention necessary to address food security.

(iii) DAL to work closely with DAL/NARI to conduct further research and detail assessment on existing and new frost coping and mitigation studies appropriate to PNG high altitude areas.

(iv) NDC to recommend to the National Government to support DAL to establish proper irrigation system in selected sites for seed multiplication and production of wheat and other frost/drought tolerant crops.

(v) NDC to recommend to the Government to adequately fund and assist the National Weather Service to seriously look into establishing proper climate monitoring stations in all the highlands provinces and districts.

(vi) NDC to recommend to the National Government for urgent but serious need for adequate funding and assistance to be allocated to DAL, NARI and NWS to assist them in their collaborative efforts to monitor and conduct research into drought and frost in PNG.

7. CONCLUSION

The Assessment Team have travelled extensively throughout the Highlands Provinces and districts affected by the recent drought and have assessed that more 350,000 people in Kandep, Surinki, Laiagam, Tambul, Imbongu, Upper Mendi, Ialibu, Pangia and Magarima were severely hit by the El Nino induced frost. Other parts of the highland provinces are still experiencing drought and its severity depends on the level of moisture that is available to sustain the food crops. The category of the drought varies between three and four, however Simbu and parts of

Eastern Highlands especially in Unggai Bena and Henganofi districts are severely affected by drought but the areas where it is induced by frost areas has soared up to category five. Therefore as part of the assessment team’s objectives we have verified and confirm the situation to come up with the above recommendation.