Pacific / Papua New Guinea

Some rain in PNG, but UN warns drought continues

13:23 pm on 15 December 2015

The head of the United Nations System in Papua New Guinea says while there has been some rainfall in parched areas it is not enough and not falling everywhere.

Dry creek bed Photo: Supplied

Much of PNG has been in the grip of a drought brought by El Nino weather conditions that are forecast to persist until the end of summer.

UNDP Resident Representative in PNG, Roy Trivedy. Photo: Network of International Development Organisations.

There have been reports of rain in the Highlands in recent weeks, but not enough and the UN's country director, Roy Trivedy, says he fears aid donors will think the threat has passed.

"My worry is that, I think, with the rains coming people will start to take the foot off the pedal and start to relax, when actually what we need to do is to keep getting further assessments, keep constantly targetting and supporting people."

Mr Trivedy says this support will be needed until the first crops are ready to be harvested.