Forced to have sex for food: the national crisis hitting the island nation

Extreme drought due to El Niño in Papua New Guinea: up to 8 million people suffer from food and water shortages. Rivers have dried up, crops have been destroyed, and clinics have closed. Reports of women and girls being forced to have sex for food or money.

An unprecedented drought in Papua New Guinea, driven by the El Niño phenomenon, has left up to 8 million people facing severe shortages of food and water. Rivers have dried up, crops have been destroyed, schools and clinics have reduced operations, and planned power outages in the capital Port Moresby could last up to ten months. A coalition of church organizations, trade unions, and business groups has declared a 'national crisis' and warned of the lack of a coordinated plan. Women and girls are particularly hard hit: Emily Maran from CARE said they are forced to walk hours for water and food, and there have been reports of women engaging in sex for money or food. In Bulolo district, rivers have dried up, and Martha Zorno described how her family walks kilometers daily to fetch water. A hailstorm has worsened the shortage of sweet potatoes. Prime Minister James Marape has ordered authorities to prepare for prolonged dryness, but business and civil groups warn that without a coordinated government response, the crisis could worsen.