Key facts
- Up to 8 million people are affected by the drought.
- Some areas have received less than a quarter of usual rainfall since August.
- Electricity blackouts have begun in the capital, Port Moresby.
- The drought is considered a 'national crisis' by a coalition of churches, unions, and businesses.
Papua New Guinea is facing a severe national crisis due to an extreme drought driven by a strengthening El Niño pattern, impacting up to 8 million people. Rivers have dried up, vital food gardens have failed, and water scarcity is forcing schools and health facilities to close. The situation is exacerbated by global heating, with some regions receiving less than a quarter of their usual rainfall since August. The PNG National Weather Service declared the onset of El Niño in June, noting widespread drought already affecting the population. The country, heavily reliant on rainfall for subsistence farming, faces concerns that El Niño will shorten the wet season, further impacting food and water security. In urban areas, PNG Power has initiated electricity blackouts due to reduced hydropower generation from low dam levels, with disruptions potentially lasting up to 10 months. Business leaders are calling for government assessments of the unfolding impacts, particularly on rural communities, while the Prime Minister has directed provincial authorities to prepare for a prolonged dry season and is exploring financial support for disaster responses.