Port Moresby – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) launched Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) plans for North, Central, and South Bougainville Districts’ communities in Papua New Guinea. 

The CBDRM plans, developed with the technical assistance of IOM and Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) authorities, aim to enhance the preparedness and response capacity of the Totaku community (Central Bougainville), Lemanmanu community (North Bougainville) and Lanku community (South Bougainville) from frequently occurring floods, as well as the threat of sea level rise and tsunamis. 

These communities are among the most disaster-prone locations, located along the coastal and inland flood plains, isolated and inaccessible due to transport infrastructure-related challenges. 

Over 3,500 people stand to benefit from the CBDRM plan. John Lokobau, Acting Director Disaster and Emergency, ABG stated “The CBDRM plan is the way forward for disaster prone communities in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. If this plan can be duplicated in other communities, I believe that the resilience and preparedness level for communities will improve and there will be less disaster impacts on the lives of the communities.” 

A well-protected evacuation route is a priority need of the communities to safely and timely escape in case of a tsunami or king tide strike. Accordingly, IOM supported Lemanmanu communities by providing materials  to create evacuation routes which will serve as a preparedness and resilience capacity measure in the event of tsunamis, and serve the community in their everyday use of the access road. 

In addition, IOM supported the Totaku and Lanku communities by providing three 5,000-litre water catchments to allow access to clean drinking water. Having a clean drinking water source at the school or church was one of the communities’ CBDRM plan priorities.  

The community and government contributed to the project by transporting materials and supplying labour. The ABG constituency members for Ioro 2 and Bolave gave additional support by providing four water catchments for Totaku while the Haku community Government pledged to purchase half of the materials needed to complete the evacuation route for Lemanmanu. 

“For such community projects like the evacuation route to be implemented and supported by IOM and Disaster Emergency Office, is the first of its kind in the Haku Community Government, especially in preparing the community in the event of a natural hazard threat,” said Mr Vincent Peits, Ward 6 Member for Lemanmanu. 

This CBDRM plan is part of  IOM’s CBDRM interventions in ABG communities funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance.  

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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