Papua New Guinea is staring at a worsening food security crisis as the ongoing El Niño weather pattern triggers prolonged drought, frost and falling water levels, destroying crops and livestock across the country, particularly in its agriculturally rich Highlands. Aid agencies have warned that millions of people could face severe food shortages if conditions persist, with rural communities already reporting dwindling food supplies and growing fears of hunger.
According to humanitarian organisation Oxfam PNG, Papua New Guinea has emerged as the Pacific nation worst affected by the current El Niño episode. Rainfall has remained below normal for nearly a year, while drought conditions, frost and invasive pests have combined to devastate food gardens that provide both sustenance and income for farming families. The organisation estimates that nearly three million people could be affected nationwide, including around 1.9 million residents of the Highlands, where agriculture forms the backbone of local livelihoods. Many villages are already experiencing acute food shortages, with some households fearing their remaining food stocks may last only two to three months. Relief agencies have warned that families are reducing both the quantity and variety of meals, increasing the risk of malnutrition, especially among children.
Meteorologists say El Niño has shifted rainfall away from Papua New Guinea, creating exceptionally dry conditions. Reduced cloud cover has also caused temperatures in the Highlands to plunge below freezing during the night, leading to frost that has severely damaged staple crops and vegetables. In several districts, farmers have reported waking up to find entire food gardens destroyed overnight, leaving them uncertain about how they will feed their families or earn an income in the coming months.
The crisis extends beyond agriculture. Rivers and other water sources are drying up, creating shortages of drinking water and affecting schools, some of which have reduced operating hours because of extreme heat and limited water availability. Authorities have urged districts to prepare for an extended dry season, warning that the impacts may continue for months.
Experts caution that Papua New Guinea is not the only nation facing the consequences of the evolving climate pattern. Across the Pacific, an estimated 4.7 million people are considered vulnerable to worsening food insecurity, disease and poverty as El Niño intensifies. Governments and humanitarian agencies are carrying out damage assessments while encouraging communities to adopt early preparedness measures. Climate experts also warn that the effects of El Niño are becoming increasingly severe as rising global temperatures amplify extreme weather events, highlighting the growing need for stronger climate resilience and timely disaster response across the Pacific region.
