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Impact of the 2015-2016 drought and
frosts: an overview
Dr Mike Bourke OL (PNG)
College of Asia and the PacificThe Australian National University
CanberraEmail: [email protected]
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Drought and frost in PNG:2015-2016
Drought from April to Nov 2015
Drought in far south until April 2016
Repeated severe frosts (>2200 m) July15
Impacts continued until early 2017
Major drought years (since 1900):
1902, 1914, 1941, 1972, 1997 and 2015
Overall impact less than in 1997
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Dry landscape, Barola VillageSept 2015 (R. Robinson)
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Productive landscape, BarolaVillage, Feb. 2016 (R. Robinson)
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Overview of drought impact: water
Water shortages widespread and early
Water for drinking and washing scarce
Increase in labour for women and girls
Increase in skin and internal diseases
Many schools closed partly/completely, even where food supply was adequate
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Locations where village food shortages were greatest
Very high altitude (>2200 m) in parts of Enga, Hela, SHP and WHP provinces
Inland Western Province, especially Nomad/Mougulu and Morehead
Highland fringe and foothills (eg Huon Pen Gulf/Morobe/EHP border area, Telefomin)
Small islands and North coast, Milne Bay
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Estimates of number short of food
Food very scarce for ca 800,000 people (Dec 2015) (12% of rural population)
Many more people were somewhat short of food (several million)
In mid-2016, ca 280,000 villagers still very short of food
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Comparison with 1997-98
More people impacted in 1997-98
By Dec97, 1.2 million (40% of rural popul)
Huge increase in rice imports in 97-98
Not a huge increase in 2015-16
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Average rice imports per person and growth trends, 1961-2016
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
Volum
e(kg/person/year)
YEAR
FigurePNG13Averageperpersonriceimportsandgrowthtrendsbydecade,1961–2016
1971–1980 annual growth rate 5.2%
1997 frost and drought
1961–1970 annual growth rate 6.3%
1972–1973 frost and drought
1986 coffee price rise
1981–1990 annual growth rate 1.7%
1991–2000 annual growth rate –0.04%
2001–2010 annual growth rate -0.2%
2011–2016 annual growth rate 2.5%
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Frost damage, Lower Kaugul Valley (Kud Sitango, NARI, Tambul, WHP)
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Mougulu market, Western Province: no food in market, January 2016
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Other impacts on villagers
Villagers’ health (Malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea, typhoid)
Bush fires. Damage to houses, gardens
Domestic food sales (espec. highlands)
Fly River not navigable for some months
Impact on Kiunga, Tabubil, Telefomin
Closure of Ok Tedi mine
Water low in Surinumu Dam
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Widespread bushfires, Sept15Yahoma area, Kandep valley, huge area of forest
and grasslands burnt (Matt Kanua)
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Worried father holds his son who is very malnourished, Mougulu clinic
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Food aid (large volumes)
Western Province (Ok Tedi Development Foundation; support from Digicel; WFP; Aust DFAT, NZ government)
Very high altitude (Enga, Hela) (4 LLGs) (UN CERF, WFP, CARE)
Milne Bay Province (UN, WFP, Province)
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Food aid (small volumes)
GoPNG (some highlands and lowlands)
Members of Parliament (DSIP funds)
Provincial administration (incl. Enga Province; Milne Bay Province)
Churches (incl. Catholic and United)
NGOs and others
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Some lessons for the future
Villagers mostly helped themselves
Greatest needs are in the most remote locations (little cash income; few roads)
Development makes a huge difference
Aspects include: cash income, market access; transport, education, health
Press coverage matters
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More lessons from 2015-16 drought and frosts
Assessments can now be done by phone and email from Moresby and prov. capitals
Done by WFP or a group of PNGeans
Local assessments, census and food distribution often good
Post-disaster recovery – key crops are corn, sweet potato, potato, pumpkin
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Em tasol
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