Middle Ramu drying up
The Ramu River in Madang Province is slowly drying up as the El Nino weather condition heightens in many parts of the country.
The Ramu River is an essential transport route for the people of Middle Ramu District and parts of the Lower Ramu area towards Bogia District.
The declining water level is now creating difficulties for commuters who depend on motorised dingies and dugout canoes for their everyday travel needs.
Syxtus Lingame, the vice-president of Arabaka Local Level Government, one of Middle Ramu's five LLGs, said speed boat operators are now having difficulties travelling as the water level continues to decrease.
The last time Middle Ramu had rainfall was five or six months ago, and food gardens are also dying.
Mr Lingame has also queried whether or not Madang Province has received its share of the promised El Nino funds.
He revealed that food gardens are also dying, adding that should the El Nino continue until December or the new year, many families will be adversely affected.
Meanwhile, the other five districts in Madang Province are also reporting similar situations as Middle Ramu.
A recent visit to Bogia District by NBC News revealed dried up food gardens and wilthing cash crops.
There were also evidences of gardens, cocoa, and betelnut blocks being burnt by fire.
Fresh drinking water is also becoming very scarce, with many people now relying mostly on mangoes and 'kulau' or young coconuts to quench their thirst.
Schools in the province are continuing classes as usual, however; the provincial education office has requested that they provide individual reports to the office about their respective situations.
The reports will be forwarded to the provincial government and administration for appropriate actions to be taken.
In the Raikos District, Senior School Inspector, Kindo Yanka, said his teachers and students are now far more severely affected.
He stated in a letter to the Education Office that he is a direct witness to the unprecedented situation on the ground.
"I am concerned about the lives and well-being of human beings - not animals.
"How much longer is the PEB going to remain silent and not respond affirmatively to my correspondences on behalf of my teachers and students? Are we going to wait until a student, a teacher, or their family member becomes severely affected or infected by El Niño related hazards?
"I am aware that templates for El Niño Preparedness/ Emergency Reporting/ Disaster Assessment have been drafted and circulated for data collection.
"That is a fair move, but according to the real situation at the district level, I believe data collection at this point in time is too late, as the academic year is winding down. This exercise should have been considered and executed in July when El Niño was gaining momentum," Mr Yanka said.
With only four weeks remaining before schools close, he questioned what assistance would be provided to teachers and students.
He further stated that while awaiting the outcome of the data provided and a response from the relevant authorities in this regard, we can not pretend that our schools are operating smoothly and that effective teaching and learning is taking place.
In fact, schools are already severely affected by El Niño and teachers and students are being forced by the system to continue classes.
He pointed out that most schools have no safe, clean drinking water, that there is severe food shortage in schools and communities, that students and teachers are experiencing very hot temperatures not conducive for learning, and reports of skin itchiness, diarrhoea and other water-borne diseases surfacing.
For pre- schools and primary Schools in Raikos District, Mr Yanka has directed his teachers to concentrate on student assessments within the remaining weeks of this month in order to complete all student assessments and close up by the end of October.