The provincial administrator in Enga Province in Papua New Guinea says a consignment of food aid sent by the national government has still not reached the areas worst affected by severe drought and frosts.
Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill meets drought-stricken farmers in the Southern Highlands Photo: Supplied / PNG Prime Minister's office
About two weeks ago, the Peter O'Neill Government announced it was shipping aid in response to pleas from across all the Highlands provinces and warnings the El Nino system could mean drought into 2016.
Dr Samson Amean says thousands have still not received the aid, but it is being mobilised over the next few days.
He says transport issues have meant the aid could not be delivered sooner.
"We have to move the rations from Mount Hagen which is about two hours, three hours drive from my province. And have those rations kept in our warehouse for safe keeping, and then dispatched to the affected districts, that'll be another two, three hours. Trucking is something we desperately - we need the funds to hire trucks to bring the stock needed for the victims."
