The
Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) is urging people to
prepare for a prolonged drought linked to El Niño.
In
a statement, the ABG said there was an 80 to 90 percent
chance of below-normal rainfall across Bougainville until
the end of the year.
It said the Nissan Atolls and
other vulnerable outer-island communities in Northern
Bougainville would be prioritised for drought
monitoring.
El Niño typically brings hotter and drier
conditions to Papua New Guinea, increasing the risk of
drought, water shortages, crop losses and food insecurity,
particularly in the Highlands and remote island
communities.
The PNG National Weather Service said a
strong El Niño is firmly established and projected to
persist into early 2027, bringing prolonged dry conditions
across many parts of Papua New Guinea.
“The situation
is being treated as an elevated drought and water-security
risk, rather than normal seasonal conditions, with
particular concern for water supplies, food gardens, food
security and remote island communities,” the statement
said.
All communities are being urged to monitor water
supplies, conserve water, protect food gardens, and report
shortages or drought-related concerns to Community
Governments and district
authorities.
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