The Australian Government is supporting Papua New Guinea’s response, following the devastating landslide in Enga Province on 24 May 2024.

Overview

On 24 May, at approximately 0300hrs the Maip Mulitaka (Mulitaka) District of Enga Province, Papua New Guinea (PNG) experienced a significant landslide. Estimates of casualties are uncertain and vary from the UN's estimate of 670 to 2,000 in the PNG National Disaster Centre's latest estimate. An estimated 1,400 households and 7,850 persons have been directly affected. Reports also indicate that power lines have been cut, clean water is inaccessible, and the area remains unstable. The remote location and damaged roads make access difficult.

The Enga Provincial Disaster Committee declared a State of Emergency on 25 May 2024. On 27 May, the Government of Papua New Guinea submitted a formal request for assistance with specific initial focus on incident management coordination advice to support local planning and recovery.

Australia's humanitarian response

The Australian Government has committed an initial $2.5 million in humanitarian assistance to support the Government of Papua New Guinea's response.  Australia was the first international partner to provide assistance.

Deployment of the Disaster Assistance Response Team

On 27 May, the Australian Government announced the deployment of a 16 person Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to provide incident management assistance and technical advice to inform early recovery efforts.

The DART deployed to PNG on 28 May. The team consists of 11 personnel from Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, consisting of specialists in incident management coordination, drone operations and logistics and one paramedic from Queensland Ambulance Service. Additionally, personnel from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's (DFAT) Crisis Response Team, Humanitarian Logistics Capability service, and Australia's National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) have also been deployed alongside the DART.

On 2 June, the Australian Government worked with the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) to deploy an RFS Linescan aircraft. The aircraft is fitted with multispectral scanning technology and was used to fly over the disaster site to collect imagery.

Humanitarian Emergency Relief Supplies

The Australian Government, through its Humanitarian Logistics Capability, has deployed humanitarian emergency relief supplies for 750 households. These supplies include hygiene kits, water filtration, dignity items, shelter kits, tents, handheld solar lights, community lighting towers, tarps, blankets, and bed mats. These supplies were delivered both from Australia and from DFAT's pre-positioned warehouse in Port Moresby, via ADF assets.

Response funding and Australian Humanitarian Partnership

On 27 May 2024, the Australian Government announced support to civil society organisations assisting in the initial response and recovery phase. This funding will enable PNG Red Cross Society and Australian NGOs to distribute relief supplies, supplying clean and safe water to manage public hygiene in evacuation centres and providing psychosocial support, first aid and other emergency assistance for affected communities.

Whole of Government Support

Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel are providing assets to support the deployment of technical expertise and supplies to PNG. The ADF has provided a C27 Spartan and C130J Hercules to support movements of personnel and supplies from Port Moresby to Enga province. A C17A Globemaster conducted two flights to deliver supplies from Brisbane to Port Moresby.

Additionally, on 2 June 2024, a New South Wales Rural Fire Service aircraft was deployed to the incident site and undertook multispectral imagery of the area for use in future land modelling.

International engagement

Australia is cooperating closely with New Zealand to support the Government of Papua New Guinea's disaster response. This includes working with New Zealand experts at the landslide site to complete geohazard and drone imagery analysis.   Australia has also assisted the movement and distribution of humanitarian relief supplies from the United Kingdom.

As Chair of the FRANZ Arrangement and the Quad HADR Partnership, Australia is working with partners to coordinate an effective international response.

How Australians can help

The most effective way Australians can help is to give a cash donation to one of the Australian non-government organisations (NGOs) appealing for support.

Unfortunately, managing donations of goods often increases the burden on local relief authorities and creates costs for affected countries in transport, warehousing and distribution.

For more information on how to donate responsibly, please visit Donate Responsibly.

Travel advice and consular assistance

For the latest travel advice regarding Papua New Guinea, please visit Smartraveller.

Media releases and statements

• 30 May 2024 – Rosemary Church, CNN
  Rosemary Church: Pat Conroy is a member of the Australian Parliament and the Minister for International Development and the Pacific. He joins me now live from Canberra, Australia.
• 29 May 2024 – Dan Cox and Jenny Marchant, ABC Newcastle
  Dan Cox: Australia and Papua New Guinea have a special relationship. We're more than just neighbours and now is PNG's time of need.
• 28 May 2024 – Sarah Ferguson, 7:30
  Sarah Ferguson: The Australian Government has committed an initial aid package of $2.5 million and is sending a specialised team to PNG tomorrow.
• 28 May 2024 - Interview with Richard King, 2HD
  Richard King: In the news, Australia will be sending technical experts and $2.5 million in initial aid to Papua New Guinea.
• 28 May 2024 - Interview with Lisa Millar, ABC News Breakfast
  Lisa Millar: Let's get more on the situation in PNG.
• 27 May 2024 - Humanitarian assistance in response to Papua New Guinea landslide
  The Australian Government will provide $2.5 million in humanitarian assistance to support Papua New Guinea's response to the landslide in Enga Province.