MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
The new PNG drought assessment report released today provides clear evidence that there is a major humanitarian crisis on our doorstep and the situation will get worse before it gets better.
An update on AusAID's October 1997 Report, this latest revised drought and frost impact assessment reveals that over 1.2 million people - 40 per cent of the country's rural population - are suffering severe food shortages. It also highlights the lack of clean drinking water in some isolated areas. The report predicts that February and March will be the worst period of the crisis.
The report provides a relative assessment of drought and frost impact across the different provinces of PNG. This information is vital to enabling the PNG authorities to plan and coordinate the relief operation and is a basis for Australia's drought assistance to PNG.
The Australian Government's aid agency, AusAID, is discussing the implications of the revised assessment with PNG authorities. As the number of people in need who live in areas accessible only by air has now increased to over 71,000 (from 60,000), the AusAID/ADF relief food operation will be expanded.
In response to the critical drinking water situation identified by the assessment, an Australian water-drilling expert is being sent to PNG next week.
The Australian Government will continue to assist the Government of Papua New Guinea in whatever ways we can. So far, $16 million has been committed to the relief effort by Australia.
Currently, AusAID is providing a range of emergency relief and technical assistance requested by the PNG Government as well as a series of rehabilitation measures to address the short and medium-term problems of the drought. These include:
- Relief food supplies are being provided to about 60,000 people in the most critically affected villages where the only viable transport is aircraft. The Australian Defence Forces are assisting by transporting rice, wheat and cooking oil to these areas. So far, over 1.3 million kilograms of relief supplies have been distributed.
- Expert technical advisers - including an hydrologist, epidemiologist, agronomist, nutritionist and a disaster management specialist - are assisting the PNG authorities in key areas.
- About 500 tonnes of plants and seeds of rapid growing food crops - including seed potatoes, corn and beans - are being provided to villagers in areas where there has been sufficient rain to enable planting ($1 million).
- Funding of relief activities by Australian and PNG Non-Government Organisations ($3.5 million).
However, the extent of the crisis should not be underestimated. PNG is actively seeking to involve other donor governments and international relief agencies.
The international community can help the Government of Papua New Guinea to ensure that the suffering caused by the drought is kept to a minimum.
Media contacts:
Judi Nixon (Mrs Sullivan's office) 07 5591 1011 / 0411 287 258
Deborah Nesbitt (AusAID) 02 6206 4966 / 0417 683 767