The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in partnership with National and Provincial Disaster Centres in Papua New Guinea have delivered hygiene kits, water containers and materials for the construction of gender segregated latrines to communities in Hela, Southern Highlands, Enga, Jiwaka and Western Highlands provinces.  

Working closely with local authorities in these provinces, IOM also delivered participatory health and hygiene awareness sessions in local communities and schools.  

These areas were affected by violence and displacement. “Communities were torn apart by the fighting,” noted Evelyn Napit, a community member of Enga province.

Evelyn welcomed the materials highlighting how the assistance would improve community sanitation and hygiene. “Thank you for this help. Through this assistance, our communities will now have decent toilets and are more aware about good hygiene,” said Evelyn while welcoming the assistance from USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance and IOM.  

IOM has also assisted target communities in the Southern Highlands, Hela and Jiwaka, by providing materials to construct rainwater catchments, and improve access to clean and safe drinking water.

“Water is one of the pressing needs for Old Compound residents and this assistance will go a long way in reducing the burden women and children face in fetching water for their households,” said Dorothy Andasua, a community member from Mendi town in Southern Highlands province.

Installation of the water points and latrines targeted communities, schools and health facilities.

Under this project and its interventions, IOM has improved access to decent sanitation for 11,313 people, conducted participatory health and hygiene awareness for 7,405 people, and provided hygiene/dignity kits for 525 households in Hela, Southern Highlands, Enga, Jiwaka and Western Highlands provinces. The water supply intervention will directly benefit 24,380 people in Jiwaka and Southern Highlands provinces.

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For further information, please contact at IOM Port Moresby, Peter Murorera, Tel: +675 4 3213655 Email: pmurorera@iom.int