A new assessment in Papua New Guinea has found that about 800,000 people live in areas determined to be critically lacking in food.
A co-author of a compilation of 200 reports from government, NGOs, church organisations and individuals in drought- and frost-affected regions says immediate action is needed to alleviate ongoing suffering.
Mike Bourke says those affected include communities living at high elevations in the Highlands region and in remote parts of the Western province and Milne Bay.
Dr Bourke says although there have been periodic rains in parts of the country the drought situation is getting worse.
"At this stage we have cast a net wide so we don't exclude people and there is another two rounds of assessments going on conducted by different groups in, you know working out of Port Moresby this January and they will be zooming in on the locations we have identified and then really trying to identify the people who are in the greatest need."
Mike Bourke says this is extremely important because of the prohibitive costs of purchasing and delivering food relief for so many people spread all across the country.
Papua New Guinea Highlands affected by drought. Photo: Supplied
