Strengthening Community Resilience Through El Niño Preparedness
Communities across Papua New Guinea are currently facing the impacts of extreme weather associated with El Niño. Extended dry periods, changing rainfall patterns, and increased food and water insecurity can have serious consequences for remote communities, particularly those with limited access to essential services.
In response, Living Child recently partnered with the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) to deliver El Niño awareness sessions throughout communities in the Keram Local Level Government (LLG) area of East Sepik Province.
The outreach focused on equipping communities with practical knowledge to help them prepare for and respond to the challenges that El Niño can bring. Discussions covered the importance of storing safe drinking water, protecting food supplies, maintaining good hygiene practices during times of water scarcity, recognising health risks associated with drought, and working together as communities to prepare before conditions worsen.
Alongside the awareness activities, the PNGDF conducted rapid needs assessments in surrounding communities. These assessments help to identify the most pressing needs on the ground.
For many villages along the Keram River, access is only possible by boat, making advance preparation especially important. When weather events disrupt transport, communities can become isolated for extended periods, limiting access to healthcare, markets, and essential supplies. By sharing practical preparedness information before emergencies occur, communities are better positioned to protect their families and recover more quickly.
We believe that resilient communities are built through local knowledge, practical education, and strong partnerships. Working alongside the PNGDF allows us to extend the reach of preparedness messages into some of Papua New Guinea's most remote regions, ensuring that communities have the information they need to make informed decisions.
If you would like to learn more about preparing for El Niño or share these resources within your own community, you can download a preparedness poster from our Resources page: www.livingchildinc.org.au/resources