People in Papua New Guinea's drought-stricken South Fly district need to be vigilant to get through the next couple of months with little water, the local MP says.
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People in Papua New Guinea's drought-stricken South Fly district need to be vigilant to get through the next couple of months with little water, the local MP says.
The southern part of PNG's huge Western Province has been experiencing drought for several months.
This region was badly affected by the drought of 2015/2016, which occurred during an El Nino weather pattern, another phase of which is expected in the wider region shortly.
The South Fly MP Sekie Agisa said some showers in recent days provided light respite.
"But it's not so much that we can collect enough water. The main problem is still there. But Weather Service predictions are that by March it should come back to normal. But looking at this January an February, that's another time that we have to be really cautious about it."
Sekie Agisa says provincial and district authorities are discussing the drought, and will submit a report on the situation to the National Disaster Centre, hoping that a disaster can be declared.
The MP estimated that up to twenty-five thousand people were directly affected by the drought.
"It's not only our people inland. Some coastal villages totally depend on water, most of them have to look around, further inside, to the streams to get their water," he said.
For many of the affected people, getting water now entailed waling several kilometres to find a source.
Mr Agisa said he would be directing money from his District Services Improvement Fund, along with assistance from the Western Province administration to help drought-affected communities.
This would go towadrs mobilising food rations for people facing food shortages due to drought damage to their gardens or crops.