Declining rainfall has caused rivers to run dry and forced highland families to reduce daily meals while searching hours for water. A severe hailstorm in Enga province compound these challenges by wiping out regional sweet potato fields. In Port Moresby, depleted dam reservoirs have limited hydropower capacity, resulting in scheduled blackouts that may continue for up to 10 months. Meteorologists warn that the typical wet season may be truncated, leaving brief showers insufficient to revive damaged crops.
Key points
Health clinics are turning away inpatients and shortening operational hours because facil…: Health clinics are turning away inpatients and shortening operational hours because facilities lack running water.
National weather forecasters caution that the approaching wet season may be shortened, pr…: National weather forecasters caution that the approaching wet season may be shortened, preventing reservoirs and dry crops from fully recovering.
Civil society groups and community leaders are urging the government to urgently conduct…: Civil society groups and community leaders are urging the government to urgently conduct formal impact assessments in rural communities.
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Extreme drought driven by an historic El Niño is affecting as many as 8 million people in Papua New Guinea, causing a cascade of issues from shortages of food and water, to electricity scarcity and schooling disruption.
An influential coalition that includes churches, trade unions and business groups has said the Pacific nation is in the midst of a “national crisis”, but there appears to be “no coordinated plan to protect vulnerable communities from the worsening impacts of El Niño.”
Residents and community leaders have told the Guardian that rivers and creeks have dried up and family food gardens – a vital source of food and income for many – have shrivelled. Schools and health facilities are being forced to close early because they lack sufficient water to provide basic services.
Emilly Meren, humanitarian projects manager at CARE International in PNG, said in rural highland areas families were rationing food to one meal a day – while food insecurity was leading to localised disputes between families.
“For women and girls, they are expected to do more to support their families,”…
Delhi has announced fresh vehicle restrictions taking effect from November 1 under the revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Under the new curbs, only BS-VI-compliant vehicles, CNG vehicles, electric vehicles, and exempted vehicles will be permitted entry.
Downstream Indian regions are facing imminent flood risks following a sudden hydrologic surge triggered beyond the border. Officials have activated emergency alerts across West Bengal and Assam as surging waters from the Himalayan terrain advance southward. The cross-border alert underscores the regional exposure to catastrophic drainage events originating in neighboring mountain territories.
Precipitation across the national capital region provided immediate relief from lingering pollution while bringing early seasonal cold to local residents. Official monitoring revealed atmospheric particulate levels dropped considerably overnight as sustained showers washed over major transport hubs and neighborhoods. Regional authorities maintain active weather watches to warn commuters of continued thunderstorms and wet conditions over the coming days.