Port Moresby – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Western Provincial Administration and North Fly District Administration, officially launched the Community-based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) programme on the 23rd of September to improve the Drimgas community’s resilience to natural disasters. 

Located in Ward 09 of the North Fly Rural District, a local level government in the Western province, the Drimgas community is prone to various natural hazards, many of which have been worsened by climate change. 

The training for community focal points (CFPs) and representatives of local authorities co-facilitated a series of planning sessions on the CBDRM. Among other concerns, residents of Drimgas prioritized the need for improved access to clean and safe drinking water and a community evacuation center that could promote risk reduction mechanisms and build resilience towards natural disasters. These appeals then became the two main pillars of the CBDRM. 

Sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), the programme provided the community members with practical equipment, including iron roofing sheets, rain catchment water tanks, cement, and galvanized iron poles that had been used to install the water points and construct their community evacuation center. IOM also helped the Drimgas community construct latrines with handwashing stations to mitigate the potential spread of diseases, including COVID-19.  

During the programme launch, where officials, partners from civil society, and the Drimgas community were present, representatives of local authorities congratulated the community members, encouraging them to take ownership of the plan. 

“The plan is already working for us. We are grateful for the assistance that we received to build the community center and establish water points and latrines. This center can serve multiple purposes. We will use it for community trainings and meetings, and evacuation in times of disasters,” said Suzie, the Ward Councilor for Drimgas. 

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For further information, please contact 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