Port Moresby – Situated within inland flood plains of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB), Lanku and Totaku wards, located in Central and South Bougainville respectively, are prone to natural hazards such as inland flooding.    

Due to their susceptibility to natural hazards, remoteness, and limited preparedness capacities, Lanku and Totaku wards has received support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) through resilience-building interventions, including disaster management trainings, disaster awareness and drills, as well as technical and material assistance to develop and implement disaster risk management plans.  

It was during the community-level planning facilitated by IOM and local authorities when the majority of Lanku and Totaku community members highlighted water scarcity and the need to improve access to safe drinking water.  

IOM, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and working in partnership with AROB’s Department of Community Government and District Affairs, and Disaster and Emergency Office, supplied Lanku and Totaku wards with water tanks and the relevant fittings to help improve people’s access to safe drinking water.  

Transportation of the water tanks and fittings to Lanku and Totaku was facilitated by Autonomous Bougainville Government, while community members will provide local resources such as sand, stones, and labour to construct the water points. 

Peter Minaka, Baubake Community Government’s Deputy Chairperson, welcomed the support highlighting, “This assistance will help alleviate water scarcity and problems such as disease outbreaks caused by drinking contaminated water.”  

IOM’s disaster risk management interventions are empowering several communities to take an active role in mitigating disaster risks and driving sustainable development at the local level.  

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For further information, please contact at IOM Port Moresby, Getachew Mekuria, Tel: +675 4 3213655 Email: gmekuria@iom.int or Peter Murorera, Tel: +675 321 36 55, Email: pmurorera@iom.int