East New Britain residents urged to report El Nino impacts

East New Britain Provincial Disaster Committee Chairman and Provincial Administrator Levi Mano outlines the province’s El Niño response plan. (NBC News)

The public in East New Britain has been urged to report all El Niño-related incidents to their respective District Administrators.

The District Administrators are heading emergency centres established in the province’s four districts and are responsible for relaying reports to the Provincial Emergency Operating Centre [PEOC] in Kokopo.

Provincial Administrator and Provincial Disaster Committee Chairman Levi Mano said the PEOC, located at the Disaster Office at Kokopo Fire Station, had been activated recently to coordinate the province’s El Niño response.

He said the centre would work with relevant emergency service providers, including ambulance services, fire services and security forces, to ensure appropriate responses to reported incidents.

However, most response activities will be carried out by the respective district administrations, the National Disaster Centre and the National Treasury Department.

Meanwhile, ward recorders have been tasked with completing a standardised reporting form to monitor the effects of El Niño on water supplies, food availability and community health.

The Ward El Niño Drought Water and Food Daily Assessment Format is designed to provide daily information on conditions in affected communities, helping authorities plan responses and allocate resources where they are needed.

At a meeting held at the PEOC last week, District Administrators and Local Level Government [LLG] Managers submitted updated data on affected households and populations across their respective wards and LLGs.

The East New Britain Provincial El Niño data summary displayed at the Provincial Emergency Operating Centre in Kokopo, showing the number of affected households and people, as well as water and food requirements in Pomio, Kokopo, Rabaul and Gazelle districts. (NBC News)

Deputy Provincial Administrator Danley Puapena said some wards were yet to submit their updated information.

“Our technical team will update and get us through the baseline data we have so that the budget and program for K2.5 million at each district is framed and allocated according to baseline data we have to date,” Mr Puapena said.

The PEOC stressed that accurate and reliable data was essential before relief assistance could be distributed.

Without verified information, the province would struggle to effectively deploy water trucks, distribute food rations and provide medical assistance to affected communities.