El Nino take toll on communities in Northern

El Niño has taken a toll on many communities and villages throughout the country, and Northern Province is no exception.

The prolonged drought has left people without water, food and severe health issues.

With the National Government's initiative to address the El Niño issue in the country, a funding of 300 million Kina has been sourced from the World Bank to assist the people of PNG in these trying times.

The National Government made a decision on the borrowed funds where each provincial governor will receive K10 million while the districts will receive K5 million.

However, K2.5 million each has been released to the districts and provincial governments to conduct the first phase of the El Niño relief program.

While in Northern province, the three districts have received K2.5 million each together with the Oro Provincial Government (OPG).

The three districts of Northern province, namely Sohe, Ijivitari and Popondetta, have formulated their relief contingency plans to facilitate relief assistance to their respective districts.

Meanwhile, the OPG's K2.5 million has been strictly put aside for water supply projects in severely affected communities.