There have been reports of possible climate change refugees in Manus Province and the provincial administration has taken the task to establish these reports and provide statistics.
Manus Provincial Administrator Oka Nungu told PNG HausBung that the recent king tides in the province have caused noticeable destruction to island and coastal communities and the possibility of displaced people is high.
Since Tuesday, the Provincial Disaster Committee comprising of all the heads of the provincial government divisions have met to discuss their response pending the rapid assessment teams’ report.
“Obviously, there could be and there may be but we have no information to actually confirm if there are any (refugees) at this time,” Mr Nungu said.
“But as soon as we get our team out, we’ll confirm if there are actually people being displaced following the king tide.
However, Mr Nungu added that a corporate society group had assisted in providing fuel for a displaced family to move to town to shelter with their family members following the destruction to their home.
He also stated that a State of Emergency call is imminent but will be done so after the assessment report.
