Disaster READY Annual Report 2022-23 Papua New Guinea

This report covers Disaster READY’s achievements and challenges in Papua New Guinea in the first year of the program’s second five-year phase.

Papua New Guinea is considered at high risk to earthquake, volcano, landslide, cyclone, coastal flooding, wildfire, tsunami and drought. The 2021 World Risk Index ranked PNG as the 9th most at-risk country in the world. With over 85 percent of the population living in rural areas and relying heavily on subsistence agriculture, PNG is also vulnerable to climate change. PNG is the largest of the Pacific islands by land mass and population. In 2023, PNG has experienced a 7.1 magnitude earthquake and a volcanic eruption.

On 18 July 2023, reports emerged from Bougainville indicating several communities in Wakunai and Torokina Community Government areas were affected by ash fall from the Mount Bagana volcanic eruption. Initial assessments indicated that food gardens and water supply were severely affected. Care centres, acting as temporary accommodation and evacuation sites, were established in the affected communities. Disaster READY partners played a crucial role supporting the Autonomous Bougainville Government’s response to the disaster. Further detail of partners’ actions are outlined under intermediate outcome 1.3. Noting this response has occurred outside of the year 1 reporting period, early details are included in here, and further information will be provided in subsequent annual reports.

In addition to natural disaster, PNG often experiences electoral violence. A national election was held in July 2022. Partners in PNG have cited the prolonged election period and subsequent violence as negatively impacting project implementation. A three-month State of Emergency (SoE) was declared on July 26th, which imposed a curfew prohibiting travel between 6pm and 6am. Partners indicated that planned activities that did not occur in Year 1 because of this violence and upheaval would be moved into Year 2.