Drought dries up Arokoi river in Kutubu

Members of the Kaipu community and children fetching water from the drying
Arokoi river for consumption *(Supplied)*

More than a thousand people who depend on the main Arokoi river in the Kutubu area of Southern Highlands province are now looking for water for consumption following El Nino induced drought that dried up the river system.

The affected communities are Kaipu 1, Kaipu 2 and Sisibia 1, Sisibia 2 including nearby villages that depend on the main Arokoi river that provides for drinking, cooking and daily use by the people.

Kaipu Community leader Kenny Sasue speaking on behalf of the affected community about the impact of the dry season while at his back children fetching water and
drinking from the affected main Arokoi river *(Supplied)*

The villages also host the Kutubu Petroleum Development License 2 (PDL 2) PNG Liquified Natural Gas project.

Community Leaders Kenny Sasue, Justin Atakaro, Alexs Asi Ware, Freddy Daniel Boko and Gibson Sasue has expressed concerns, appealing to authorities about the impacts of the El Nino induced drought that is affecting their communities.

Kenny Sasue said Arokoi river is the main river that people rely on and also the PNG LNG project developers Santos and ExxonMobil use for the project facilities in the area and the prolong drought has really affected the river system.

The dried Arokoi river with stones exposed due to prolong dry season *(Supplied)*

“This is a big river that our people including mothers and children use for drinking, cooking and daily use for washing but with the dry season, it has dried up to a stream that it might dry up altogether in the next two weeks or after one month,” Sasue said.

“The small streams that we use to wash and filter our sago have all dried up and we don’t know where we will get the water for consumption after one month if the main Arokoi river dry up altogether”.

“We appeal to PNG LNG project developers Santos and ExxonMobil and to the government especially Prime Minister James Marape to hear our plight,” Kenny Sasue said.

“We also appeal to our local MP for Nipa Kutubu Dr. Billy Joseph for assistance as some of our people have died due to the impacts of the dry season” he said.

The community in the Kutubu area are among others nationwide facing the impact of El Nino induced drought.

The National Weather Service has warned that the El Nino peak is expected during the month of October to December and into next year (2027).