Situation Report
Number:
7
Date:
January13 2016
Prepared by: Clive Phillips
SUMMARY INFORMATION
PNG Drought 2015
COMMON NAME OF EMERGENCY
DATE
11.January 2016
COUNTRY
PNG
SCALE
Natural Disaster – Drought – Cat 2
MAIN CLASSIFICATION
ESTIMATED
NUMBER
OF
PEOPLE Potentially 3 million people to be affected.
AFFECTED
Estimated 1.9 million in the Highlands.
Contact information of lead agency
Clive Phillips – Drought Response Coordinator
humanitarian@oxfampng.org.pg
Julius Giowen – Response Coordinator Highlands
juliusg@oxfampng.org.pg
1. Highlights
 On the 22 December 2015 the PNG Weather Office declared that the peak of El Nino conditions had
been reached. Rain has fallen across the country since late December. In most regions however
quantities are less than average for this time of year. Weather office predications indicate that it is
there is only a 20% chance of the country receiving normal amounts of rainfall in the next 3 months.
 Recent rains have resulted in flooding and landslides affecting 1000 Households in Jiwaka. IOM report
that 25 households have been displaced.
 Recent information indicates the food security situation in many provinces is gradually getting worse,.
The greatest need is in the most remote areas where there is limited access to a cash economy and the
cost of logistics and lack of coordination capacity has impacted on ability of the government to deliver
relief supplies. Access to water is improving in place but the quality of water is reduced due to
increased run off.
 Oxfam working with partners TTU, Kafe Womens, CDA, KGWAN and IRRM have now conducted Multi
Sector Household Assessments in 28 communities in 2 districts (Guminie and Kundiawa-Gembogl) in
Chimbu Province and 2 districts (Daulo and Henganofi) in Eastern Highlands.
 2700 Households (18900 beneficiaries) have received public health and agricultural drought mitigation
messages and WASH NFI’s (20L Jerry cans and soap). Intent is to distribute to a further 1000
Households in Guminie and Kerowagi Districts by end January.
 Installation of Sky Hydrants at Kundiawa Hospital and Kerowagi Health Centre has commenced and is
expected to be completed by end January 16 The start of repairs to and extension of GFS at
Omkolai/Guminie High School remains delayed awaiting approval from the school board. If approval is
not received priority for WASH engineering will switch to the installation of rainwater catchment tanks in
Omkolai village destroyed during a bush fire in October.
 MFAT have agreed to provide $350,000 NZD to fund WASH activities in East Sepik. Panning meetings
in Wewak will take place week commencing 18 January. Intent is to commence NFI distribution and
WASH assessment in February.
 As part of planning for the joint Oxfam/CARE International DFAT HPA funded project:
o
A Joint training and planning workshop will take place 12 – 14 January.
o
An EFSVL Response strategy and plan has been developed. Delivery of Drought adaptation
training will commence in mid February.
o
Initial planning for WASH repairs in Health facilities is underway. Work is planned to commence
in February.
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The primary constraint on conducting additional short term drought response interventions is the
availability of local staff with the necessary skills to coordinate and conduct the work. A decision to not
apply for available funding from FAO and ECHO was taken on this basis in late December.
 A joint NDC, UN and NGO Response Planning meeting took place in Port Moresby, on 15/16
December.
2. Oxfam Operations

Target for beneficiaries is 82,000 people in Chimbu Province, East Sepik Province, Bougainville and
Eastern Highlands Province
Current Operations

To date 18900 beneficiaries in Chimbu and Eastern Highlands Provinces have been reached with NFI
Distribution. A further 7000 beneficiaries are expected to be reached by end January.
Autonomous Region of Bougainville

Oxfam staff continue to monitor the situation in order to provide early warning of any deterioration.
East Sepik Province

The manager of the Wewak Office has been liaising with partner organisations and other agencies
like Save the Children in preparation for planning of our MFAT funded response in the region.
NCD/Central Provinces

Oxfam staff are participating in DMT and cluster meeting. These are now held fortnightly.
Highlands
Eastern Highlands Province

Oxfam with partners TTU and Kafe Womens, have conducted 48 multi sector household and
community level assessments and have distributed NFI’s (20L Jerry Cans and soap) to 1007
Households in Daulo District (38 HH’s) and Henganofi District (969 HH’s).

In partnership with CARE International, Oxfam staff have run and participated in 3 day training and
HPA Project implementation planning workshop.

A programme of water quality testing in sites in Henganofi District has been implemented in order to
compare water quality before and after the recent increase in rainfall.

Assessments of WASH facilities at 3 health facilities in Henganofi District have been undertaken.
These have identified significant problems with existing systems which are resulting in many patients
contracting water borne diseases when they attend the facilities. A programme of work to address
these issues is being developed.
Chimbu Province

Oxfam with partners KGWAN and IRRM have conducted 16 multi sector household and community
level assessments and have distributed NFI’s (20L Jerry Cans and soap) to 1137 Households in
Kundiawa Gembogl District.

Oxfam with partner CDA have conducted multi sector household and community level assessments
and have distributed NFI’s (20L Jerry Cans and soap) to approximately 500 Households in Guminie
District.

Installation of 2 x Sky Hydrants at Kundiawa Hospital and one at Kerowagi Hospital is underway and
should to be completed end January.

Plans to extend the Gravity Fed system at Omkolai High School to Households in surrounding
communities are on hold pending approval from the school board.

Repairs funded by Oxfam to the Kundiawa Hospital water tanker are underway. Repairs should be
complete by end January
3. Future Plans
Autonomous Region of Bougainville

Continued monitoring of the situation to provide early warning of any deterioration.
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East Sepik

The Drought Response Coordinator and WASH Programme Manager are travelling to Wewak on 18
January to conduct site visits and to lead planning for the implementation of Multi Sector
Assessments, NFI Distribution and WASH engineering projects in East Sepik.
NCD/Central Provinces

Continued engagement with NDC and other agencies and attendance at DMT and Cluster meetings.
Highlands

Completion by end January of MFAT funded programme of multi sector assessments and NFI
distribution in Guminie and Kerowagi Districts, Chimbu Province.

Support to implementation starting 25 January and February of HPA funded vaccination, assessment
and NFI distribution programmes led by CARE International in Chimbu, Eastern Highlands and
Morobe Provinces.

Planning and implementation in February, March and April of HPA funded WASH Engineering
projects in Chimbu, Eastern Highlands and Morobe Provinces.

Implementation of HPA funded Drought adaptation training courses in Chimbu, Eastern Highlands
and Morobe Provinces commencing mid February.
4. Logistics

NFI’s for distribution in East Sepik have been procured and are being transported by ship from lae to
Wewak.

Quotations are being obtained for materials required to support Livelihoods activities commencing in
mid February.
5. Media and Communications

An in country response communications strategy has been developed. This includes development of
a comprehensive WASH awareness and Livlihood drought mitigation messaging campaign using
multiple modes of mass communication.
Human Resources


7 local staff have been recruited to support the implementation of drought response work since 01
January. This brings the total of staff recruited to 16. Recruitment for a further 6 roles is underway.
An Emergency Food Security Coordinator will deploy to Goroka on 14 January to lead
implementation of HPA funded Drought Adaptation training
6. Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning

A MEAL Framework has been developed for the response, and integrated with the Joint
Oxfam/CARE framework for HPA Funded Activities. Initial Post Distribution Monitoring is being
planned for early February.

Planning for Real Time Evaluation led by Oxfam Australia in the week commencing 22 February has
begun.
ACRONYMS
ICF – International Crisis Fund
PDC – Provincial Disaster Committee
NDC – National Disaster Committee
GBV – Gender Based Violence
NFI – Non-food Items
PNG – Papua New Guinea
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