Pacific / Papua New Guinea

PNG authorities work to future proof country from drought

07:12 am on 18 December 2015

The chairman of Papua New Guinea's National Disaster Management Centre, Dickson Guina, says they are trying to make the country more resistant to drought.

El Nino induced frost and drought have wrought havoc across much of PNG for the past four or five months affecting hundreds of thousands of people.

It is expected to get worse through into the first quarter next year.

Mr Guina says this week his committee has met with provincial co-ordinators, international donors, NGOs and church groups, and he believes they are now ready for the challenges ahead.

And he says they are also working on how to make the country more resilient to future droughts.

"We are looking at drought resistant crops, working with NARI [National Agricultural Research Institute] and of course the Department of Agricultuure and Livestock in terms of nutrition and so we are looking at a holistic approach in addressing the situation, because we understand that drought will always come back."