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On 30 October 2002, a technical assessment on the impact of El Niño was conducted by the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), AUSAID, Australian National University and National Disaster Management Office (NDMO). According to the technical team report the areas, that are currently experiencing the severe El Niño related drought events,are Telefomin District of Sandaun Province and the middle and south areas ofWestem Province. The other areas of high altitude region that experience El Niño related frost and drought events are Kandep and Sirunki areas of Enga Province, upper Mendi areas of Southern Highlands and Tambul areas of the Western Highlands Province.
The current prolonged drought in these regions have had a large Impact on the agricultural sector. The impact of drought has caused food insecurity in the affected areas.Garden food and cash crops in these areas die as a result of heat and low moisture content in the soil.The impact also caused water shortage. which is seen as another major problem. It was observed, that the rivers and creeks have gone dry or reduced in volume causing people living along rivers and creeks to migrate to other areas.
Source: IFRC Bulletin No. 1, Papua New Guinea: Drought and Frost, 14 January 2003