PAPUA NEW GUINEAI.

Natural hazards in PAPUA NEW GUINEA

1.1 Natural hazards likely to affect the country
Earthquakes, River Floods, Landslides, landslides dam burst,
Coastal Erosions, Tsunami
1.2 Recent major disasters
year dis_subset
2003 Landslide
2004 Flood
Explosive
2004 Eruption
2005 Earthquake
2005 Flood
Explosive2005 Eruption

killed injured total_affected dam (US ‘000s)―
132121―0010000
01
10009600
200―

―
―
―

0015000―

Source: "EM-DAT: The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Databasewww.em-dat.net – "Université Catholique de Louvain - Brussels Belgium"
Example of a major disaster and response activities
Sea Level Rise Countermeasures (1999)
A number of coastal PNG villages have experienced gradual erosion of
their coastal areas resulting from the effects of high waves or the effectsof global warming. The Duke of York Islands in the East New Britain
Province came to a stage that the sea level rise was threatening thefuture of the existence of the islands. Though it was not a declared
national disaster, the East New Britain Provincial Disaster Committee
through the Provincial Administration responsibly went ahead inplanning and implementing the relocation of the islanders to the mainisland of New Britain as a long term counter measure to sea level riseeffects.
Activities for recovery and reconstruction after major disasters
Example: Aitape -Sissano Tsunami – 1998
Due to lack of information on tsunami dangers by scientists, lack ofcommunication establishment by the Government and lack of trained
disaster managers this led to not only the slow response by theSource: WCDR country reportestablished mechanism but also the death of most of the 2,217 citizens
on 17th and 18th July 1998 respectively. International relief assistancewas overwhelming particularly from Australia, Japan, Indonesia, New
Zealand, USA, China including Taiwan and other Pacific island nations.
The Rehabilitation Programme and the coordination of it was activatedafter the recovery phase. Through this programme the following havebeen put in place:• The temporary relocated victims were placed in their new andpermanent villages away from the coast line.
• There have been more schools built now than before the tsunami
impact. This is in preparation for future increase of population• There have been more health facilities like aid posts and health sub
center set up than before the disaster impact.
• The establishment of Trauma Counseling Training Center in thearea for the victims and for PNG.
• The construction of over 45 kilometers of road linking the local town
(Aitape) and most of the new villages.
• The people have adapted very well to the new environment ofpredominantly gardening life to that of the former, being the fishing
life.
II.

Disaster Management system

2.1 Administrative system

Conventional long form: Independent State of Papua New Guinea
Conventional short form: Papua New Guinea
Government type:
constitutional monarchy with parliamentarydemocracy

Capital:Port Moresby
Administrative divisions: the country is divided into 19 provinces plus

the National Capital District in Port Moresby.
The Provinces are divided into districts anddistrict sub-district into local level government(LLGS).

2.2 Legal system, legal frameworkPNG National Constitution, (Part X - Emergency Powers)
This Part of the Constitution sets the basis for any disaster-related
matters to be legislated or managed within Papua New Guinea.
National Disaster Management Act (Chapter 403) of 1984.
After visiting Japan and looking through its Disaster Countermeasures
Basic Act, the PNG NDMO has formally written to the Legal and Policy
section of Department of Provincial & Local Government Affairs to liaise

Source: WCDR country reportwith the Attorney General for the review of the NDMO Act. This is also
in line with the major activities of the National Disaster Management
Project when it commences in February 2001. Among other issues thereviewed Act will address the basic concepts and principles of disastermanagement, making it mandatory for any NGO groups involved withdisaster matters to be accredited with the National DisasterManagement Office (NDMO).
Public Health Act
All health, medical and medicinal matters either during the disaster or
between disasters are managed and coordinated by the Ministry andDepartment of Health.
RPNG Constabulary Act
All law enforcement programmes and activities either preventing or
reducing of the human caused civil strives, the Act empowers the PNG
Police Department to handle that as a lead agency.
PNGDF Act
The Act provides that the PNGDF to be deployed on call out basis toanswer to the calls of either human or natural caused emergencies anddisasters. The Act also provides that PNGDF personnel can be deployedon civic action programmes and activities such as infrastructure
construction including health and awareness. The final aim is to preventor reduce (mitigate) adverse effects of disasters.
Internal Revenue Act
The Act empowers the Internal Revenue Commissioner to over ridecertain provisions of the Act particularly in the event of national disasteror emergency when it comes to importation of special relief supplies andthe exception on import duty.
Insurance Act
The Act provides avenue for property owners to take up insurance
policies to cover their properties from losses e.g. through urban fires.
This Act needs reviewing and improvement.
2.3 Structure of disaster management
National Organization for Disaster Management
The Disaster Management system in so far as the preparedness andresponses are concerned is headed by a National Disaster Committee(NDC). NDC is responsible to the cabinet, the National Executive
Council (NEC).

Source: WCDR country report

The NDC is composed of Secretaries of selected departments, chaired by
the Secretary of the Department of Provincial and Local Level
Government Affairs (DoLLGA). There are lower level disastercommittees in Provinces.

Structure of National Disaster Committee
A permanent National Disaster and Emergency Services (NDES) a
headquarters organization, constituted within the Department ofProvincial & Local Level Government is responsible for the operational
coordination of emergency responses including logistics andcommunication.
The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) is the new title for
the National Disaster & Emergency Services (NDES). The changes werenecessary to be consistent with practices in the South West Pacific region.

Structure National Disaster Management Office
The core activities of the NDMO has been revised as follows:● Promote public awareness and education.
● Provide technical support to its sub-branches in the Provinces andDistrict.

Source: WCDR country report●●Risk Management.
Liaison and Coordinating role with other Government agencies andNGOs.

2.4 Priorities on disaster risk management
••
•
III.

Community Disaster Preparedness;
Early Warning
Poverty reduction
Disaster management plan

National Disaster Management Plan
The review has been completed but waiting for approval by the National
Disaster Committee before having it submitted to the National
Executive Council for ratification.
National Response Action Plan
The draft plan has been circulated to key agencies for input. As soon as
the National Disaster Plan (the basic plan) is formally ratified andimplemented, the National Response Action Plan will be the next pieceof countermeasure to be dealt with. This NRAP will spell out the timeframe for the development of multi-sectoral roles and functions throughtheir respective Contingency Plans, Operation Procedures etc.
Specific Contingency Plans for identified Hazards
Each active volcano in each province supposed to have a separate
Contingency Plan drafted by each respective Provincial DisasterCommittee. However, only a few have been in existence like ManamVolcano, Karkar volcano, Ulawun volcano and Rabaul volcanoes
including other plans for different types of hazards or emergency &disasters like Oil Spill, Search & Rescue Plan, Aviation Accidents Planetc. need reviewing. Some have yet to start drafting after local scientists
and technical officers establish the Hazard and Risk involved.
Provincial Emergency & Disaster Plans
Laid down by each respective province in Papua New Guinea
IV.

Budget size on national level

There is an annual budget for risk reduction activities which arenormally addressed in the work plans

Source: WCDR country report

V.

Progress and situations of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA)

VI.

Projects on disaster reduction headed by Ministry

Papua New Guinea Disaster Management Project; 5 year term
Project Components:
1. Training
2. Review of the national DM plans
3. Disaster awareness and preparedness activities
4. Review of the DM Act
5. Strategies:• Institutional strengthening• Disaster education and community awareness• Disaster preparedness and• capability building
VII.

ADRC Counterpart
Head of Department of Provincial & Local Level Government
AffairsP.O.Box 4970 Boroko NCD
Port Moresby

Source: WCDR country report