The Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) is urging people to prepare for a prolonged drought linked to El Niño.
In a statement, the ABG said there was an 80 to 90 percent chance of below-normal rainfall across Bougainville until the end of the year.
It said the Nissan Atolls and other vulnerable outer-island communities in Northern Bougainville would be prioritised for drought monitoring.
El Niño typically brings hotter and drier conditions to Papua New Guinea, increasing the risk of drought, water shortages, crop losses and food insecurity, particularly in the Highlands and remote island communities.
The PNG National Weather Service said a strong El Niño is firmly established and projected to persist into early 2027, bringing prolonged dry conditions across many parts of Papua New Guinea.
“The situation is being treated as an elevated drought and water-security risk, rather than normal seasonal conditions, with particular concern for water supplies, food gardens, food security and remote island communities,” the statement said.
All communities are being urged to monitor water supplies, conserve water, protect food gardens, and report shortages or drought-related concerns to Community Governments and district authorities.
