By GINNAH MINI
THE Western Provincial Government has submitted a proposal to the National Government to declare a State of Emergency (SOE) in the province amid an unprecedented humanitarian, economic and environmental crisis triggered by the El Niño-induced drought.
The proposal was presented by Western Province Governor Hon. Taboi Yoto to the Minister for Health and National Emergency and Disaster Management, Dr. Billy Joseph, at the Hilton Hotel. The presentation was witnessed by Members of Parliament from Western Province, the acting Director-General of the National Disaster Centre (NDC), the Provincial Administrator and other key stakeholders.
The province is experiencing critically low water levels in the Fly River, disrupting the transportation of essential supplies, including food, fuel and medicine.
The provincial government reported that nearly 80 per cent of food and water sources in the urban centres of Kiunga and Ningerum have been depleted, forcing health services to scale down operations and schools to close.
Speaking during the presentation, Governor Yoto said more than 300,000 people across over 65,000 households had been severely affected by the El Niño-induced drought.
“We are in fear that our people may face starvation, illness and loss of life,” Mr Yoto said.
He called on Dr Joseph to advise the National Executive Council (NEC) to declare a State of Emergency in Western Province to enable an urgent and coordinated response to the crisis.
“Western Province supports the country’s economy through Ok Tedi. Now the province needs the government and the country to support us. If the National Government does not have the capacity to support us, I want to ask them to call on diplomatic and international partners to come and help us,” he said.
Members of Parliament from the province supported the proposal, emphasising the urgent need for a State of Emergency to mobilise additional resources and assistance.
They said the support provided by Ok Tedi Mining Limited, the Mineral Resources Development Company (MRDC) and the provincial government was insufficient to address the scale of the crisis. They also called on the National Government to declare an emergency and facilitate the reopening of the Indonesia border to allow essential supplies to reach affected communities.
In response, Dr Joseph said the disaster management team was preparing the necessary submissions and working with relevant government agencies to progress the declaration of a State of Emergency.
He also confirmed that discussions were underway with the Indonesian Government regarding the reopening of the border to facilitate access to essential supplies.
“Submissions have already been formulated, and the option for the NDC to consider declaring a national emergency pursuant to Section 228 of our Constitution is being pushed through,” Dr Joseph said.
The proposed declaration is expected to support a coordinated response to the worsening humanitarian situation and help mobilise the assistance needed by affected communities across Western Province.