Bougainville placed on drought alert
Bougainville has been placed on drought alert, with the Autonomous Bougainville Government warning of possible water and food shortages due to the prolonged dry conditions.
In a statement released on Sunday, the ABG Department of Community Government, District Affairs and Emergency Disaster Services says the alert follows a warning from the PNG National Weather Service about below-normal rainfall linked to the current El Niño weather pattern.
The ABG says there is an 80 to 90 percent chance of below-normal rainfall across Bougainville between September and November 2026.
It says the El Niño conditions are also expected to continue through the rest of the year.
The ABG is concerned about water supplies, food gardens, and food security, especially in remote and outer-island communities.
The Nissan Atolls and other outer-island communities in Northern Bougainville will receive priority monitoring because of their vulnerability and limited access to alternative water sources, transport and essential services.
The ABG says prolonged dry conditions could lead to:
- Falling water levels in rainwater tanks and other household water sources.
- Reduced food-garden production.
- Increased pressure on household food supplies.
- Greater demand for emergency water assistance.
- Poorer water quality.
- Increased health and nutrition risks.
Other parts of Bougainville, including Central and South Bougainville, may experience different weather conditions, but the drought risk is being monitored across the entire region.
Disaster officials will conduct rapid assessments in vulnerable communities over the next two to four weeks and will increase weekly drought monitoring and reporting.
The ABG is also working to finalise a drought contingency plan to guide preparedness and early response.
Communities have been urged to conserve water, protect available water sources, monitor their food gardens and report water shortages to their local community governments and district authorities.
The public has also been advised to follow official updates from the PNG National Weather Service and the ABG and avoid unverified information.
The ABG says Bougainville will remain on HIGH WATCH for drought and water-security risks through 2026, with RED priority monitoring for vulnerable outer-island communities.
However, it says the alert does not mean all communities are currently experiencing severe drought.