Port Moresby – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Papua New Guinea delivered assistance in response to the king tide induced flooding in the provinces of East Sepik, Manus, and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB).

Informed by assessment reports, IOM procured, transported, and distributed various shelter/ non-food items (S/NFIs) to these target locations. The assistance included collapsible water containers, buckets, soap, facemasks, mosquito nets, kitchen utensils, shelter construction toolkits, tarpaulins, solar lanterns, and water treatment tablets.

IOM worked closely with the local leaders and communities in the target locations in identifying the most vulnerable persons, including internally displaced persons, persons living with disability, and women heads of household.

Through financial support from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), and in-kind support from Papua New Guinea’s National Disaster Centre, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Australian Government, the response addressed the immediate needs of 10,600 vulnerable persons affected by the king tide. 

The response complements IOM's current USAID-funded disaster risk management project that is being implemented in AROB, East Sepik, and five additional provinces. The project has the overall goal of contributing to reducing economic and human losses and displacement by natural hazards through building community-based resilience and the capacity of government officials of all levels in Papua New Guinea. The technical and human capacity built under the project at the provincial and national levels enabled IOM and its partners to mobilize resources to assess and respond timely to the affected communities. IOM also used some of the S/NFIs pre-positioned under the project to respond to the effects of the king tide.

"On behalf of the Carterets Islanders, I am thanking you all for your help,” noted Chief Paul Tobas, Carterets Islands’ representative during a distribution by IOM, local authorities, and partners. Autonomous Bougainville Government Member for Atolls, Pais Taihu also appreciated the assistance noting, “This area is remote, and we are so grateful to see you come and assist our people.”

Co-leading the Shelter/NFI/Camp Coordination Camp Management cluster coordination system in Papua New Guinea, together with the National Disaster Centre, IOM worked closely with Government through the National and Provincial Disaster Centres, and the United Nations Resident Coordinator's Office in delivering critical NFIs to the affected communities.

For further information, please contact at IOM Port Moresby, Peter Murorera, Tel: +675 321 36 55, Email: pmurorera@iom.int