Strong El Niño conditions continued in November 2015 and are forecast to remain the same through February 2015. As many as 4.7 million people in 13 Pacific countries (2.4 million in PNG and the total populations of the remaining Pacific nations) are at risk of adverse effects of El Niño. Governments are taking measures to mitigate the potential impacts of the drought.
Firm numbers on affected people and estimated funding needs have so far been scarce however assessments are now underway in a number of countries that would provide more specific estimates of affected people and affected sectors across the region. Drought warnings are in force for PNG, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa. A drought watch is in place in the Solomon Islands and drought alerts have been issued for Vanuatu and Palau.
For further information, please contact:
Danielle Parry, Public Information Officer
email: parryd@un.org
Telephone: +679 777 1433 or +679 7446673
OR
Arnold Chanel, Public Information Officer
email: chanel@un.org
Telephone: +679 777 7165