Very strong El Nino deepens drought threat across PNG

Papua New Guinea is facing intensifying drought conditions driven by a very strong El Niño event strengthening across the Pacific. The National Capital District and Gulf provinces have reached critical drought status as the country braces for worsening dry conditions projected to extend through the end of 2026.

The developing meteorological conditions pose a deep and deepening threat to food security and water availability across the affected regions. Authorities and communities are being forced to prepare for prolonged dry weather impacts as the severe El Niño pattern takes hold.