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This update is produced by the Papua New Guinea Disaster Management Team (DMT) in collaboration with humanitarian partners. Sources: disaster needs assessment reports, official communications, and DMT/ISCG meeting minutes
HIGHLIGHTS
- Continuing drought conditions have been experienced since November 2024 in Nissan, Fead,
Carterets, Mortlock, and Tasman islands in North Bougainville. - Whole communities in the five remote islands are affected, totalling 10,948 persons or 2,248 households.
- The most urgent needs include food and drinking water for 6 months, WASH, Health and Map indicating locations of drought-affected islands @UN HAT / DMT Secretariat Nutrition interventions.
- The Autonomous Bougainville Government is preparing a relief mission to the affected islands delivering food and drinking water supplies good for one month.
- The National Disaster Centre has requested the DMT to support the ABG response.
- Major gaps in food and drinking water supplies, as well as, WASH, Health and Nutrition response remain.
SITUATION OVERVIEW
The communities in Nissan, Fead, Carterets, Mortlock and Tasman islands in North Bougainville district of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB) are experiencing drought conditions since November 2024. The persistence of the dry spell prompted the Autonomous Bougainville Government’s (ABG) Regional Disaster Centre (BRDC) to conduct a remote disaster needs assessment. According to the BRDC’s assessment report dated 26 February 2026, the now 5-month long drought has resulted in the depletion of the communities’ water supplies typically stored in rain-fed water tanks. The affected populations, totalling 10,948 persons or 2,248 families or households have begun to resort to sourcing drinking water from dug-out wells and coconuts, and using sea water for cooking.
There is also worsening food insecurity with 1,415 inter-cropped food gardens, 55 banana plots, 85 swamp taro plots, 20 breadfruit trees, and 15 cassava gardens in serious distress. Coping strategies reported include increased consumption of coconut meat (Supply is also threatened.), mangrove seeds and seafood.
Drought-related health conditions have begun to emerge specifically dehydration, diarrhea and skin conditions. Malnutrition, as well as, malaria are reported.
Classes have not resumed since the 2024 year-end holidays as a result of the dry spell negatively impacting students’ mental focus and rendering school sanitation facilities unusable. Faculty and other school personnel are similarly affected as well as public servants and providers of basic services. Normal livelihood activities are also halted in favor of searching for alternative sources of water and food.
Overall, as households go into survival mode, social cohesion could be threatened and protection issues could emerge.
The table below presents a demographical breakdown across the affected communities including categories with special needs. Sex and age disaggregated population data was not available at the time of assessment.