“My name is Tema Piniel. I am from ward 12, Hwakange Village, Kome LLG, Menyamya.
I have four children. My eldest child is in grade five, and my youngest is in elementary school.
School has been suspended since the end of last term, due to water shortage and food shortage. I do not have enough food to feed my children and I have to travel long distances to collect water. The return trip takes about three hours into another ward, and at times we are not welcome to fetch water from their water source. My husband has started to help me with this chore, as I cannot travel long distance because I do not have the strength to do such trips any more. Therefore we have resorted to fetching our drinking and cooking water from the big river which is used by the whole population of 3,000 people in three different wards.
I have noticed that my children have lost weight and that their skin is very dusty after having their bath in the river, the same river from which we collect our drinking water.
My gardens have been totally destroyed by the long period without rain. Now my husband and I are only drinking water and eating as little as we can so that our children can have more to eat. Before, we all usually ate four to five kaukaus (sweet potatos) each. Now the six of us share two kaukaus. We only eat in the evenings, as there is not enough food and drink water and chew sugarcane only throughout the day.”
About the food and water crisis in Papua New Guinea: The government estimates more than 1.8 million people across the country are currently affected by extended drought and frost linked to El Niño. The highlands region – where CARE has a strong presence – have been the worst affected, with crops failing and water supplies drying up. CARE in Papua New Guinea is distributing basic items such as jerry cans, water purification tablets, soap and buckets to approximately 10,000 people. In addition, as part of CARE’s ongoing projects, community health volunteers and health staff have been mobilized for hygiene promotion and refresher training are conducted with health workers on treating dehydration and moderate malnutrition.