Prime Minister James Marape has directed all Provinces and Districts across Papua New Guinea to immediately prepare for the possibility of an extraordinary and prolonged Dry Season as El Niño conditions develop across the tropical Pacific.
Marape said the Government was taking early action to ensure that communities, particularly those in drought-prone and water-scarce locations, are prepared before conditions worsen.
The Prime Minister said Cabinet was examining appropriate financial and administrative arrangements to support Provincial and District Governments to prepare for, mitigate and respond to disaster situations arising from prolonged dry conditions.
“I just want to pass instruction to all Districts and all Provinces to be prepared for an extraordinary Dry Season if it does happen,” Marape said.
“Our country has a system where Provinces and Districts have channels of funding from the National Government. Cabinet is looking at tailoring provisions of our Financial Instructions to make sure that Districts and Provinces are assisted to prepare and respond to disasters as they happen where appropriate, especially this prolonged Dry Season that is coming,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the National Government was closely monitoring the developing El Niño situation and would continue to provide national interventions where necessary.
However, he stressed that disaster preparedness must begin at Community, District and Provincial levels, with local leaders taking responsibility for identifying water sources, vulnerable communities, food-security risks and practical response measures.
“We are keeping tab on what is happening and, wherever possible, the National Government is intervening to make interventions,” Marape said.
“But in the meantime, we have asked Provinces and Districts to take ownership of this disaster that may happen and have a localised approach.”
Marape said Papua New Guinea’s diverse geography required responses tailored to local circumstances rather than a one-size-fits-all national solution.
Communities located near rivers, streams and reliable water sources would require different mitigation measures compared to dry inland communities, isolated islands, high-altitude settlements and areas far from permanent watercourses.
“Each area knows where water flows,” he said.
“We are a country that has a lot of river run-off, so those living beside river run-off, the Districts and Provinces should be having a response tailored appropriately.
“We will look at those who are far from rivers and see how best we could approach this as we go forward.”
Marape has directed the Central Government to develop a coordinated National Strategy within the next two weeks to guide preparedness and response measures nationwide.
The Strategy is expected to bring together Government agencies and stakeholders responsible for weather and climate monitoring, disaster preparedness, water supply, health, agriculture, transport, food security, provincial affairs and community resilience.
“I have given the Central Government the next two weeks to come up with a Strategy to deal with this issue,” he said.
“But we have asked our Districts and Provinces to have local responses prepared and to assist in mitigation in case there is a prolonged Dry Season.”
The Prime Minister said the Government’s immediate focus would be on preparedness rather than waiting for a crisis to deepen.
Measures under consideration include identifying vulnerable communities, mapping water sources, protecting and repairing community water systems, encouraging water conservation, preparing food and agricultural contingency plans, monitoring health impacts and ensuring local authorities are ready to respond quickly if drought conditions intensify.
El Niño is a naturally occurring climate pattern associated with warmer-than-normal sea-surface temperatures across the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. For Papua New Guinea, El Niño is commonly linked to below-normal rainfall, prolonged dry spells, reduced river flows, water shortages, crop stress, food-security pressures, bushfire risks and frost conditions in parts of the Highlands.
Current international and regional climate outlooks indicate a high likelihood that El Niño conditions will develop and persist through the second half of 2026.
Regional forecasts suggest Papua New Guinea and neighbouring Pacific nations extending towards Vanuatu may experience drier-than-normal conditions, while some equatorial Pacific Island countries may receive above-average rainfall.
Prime Minister Marape said Papua New Guinea must act with urgency, unity and practical planning to protect lives and livelihoods.
He called on Provincial Governors, Members of Parliament, District Development Authorities, Provincial Administrations, Local-Level Governments, Churches, Community Leaders, Development Partners and citizens to work together in preparing communities.
“This is a time for preparedness, not panic,” Marape said.
“Every District and every Province must know its vulnerable areas, know its water sources, protect its people and prepare early.”
Marape said the Government would continue providing updates as the National Strategy is completed and as weather and climate monitoring agencies issue further forecasts and advisories.
