Kundiawa Gembogl member  Muguwa Dilu is now calling on the National Disaster and Emergency Service (NDES) to quickly move into provinces and assess the drought situation that is currently hitting the country. Mr Dilu said the National Weather Service has informed that the El Nino induced drought hitting the country will develop but it is unclear whether the National Disaster and Emergency Service (NDES) and relevant state agencies are moving to assess the situation on the ground and recommending mitigation measures needed. “By now we should know how bad the drought is affecting our people in the provinces.” “I am getting reports that fresh water sources are drying up and food gardens are being destroyed, and yet there is no official report to confirm or deny these reports.” “We are heading for a major disaster here but where is the NDES?” “It should be out there, assessing the situation on the ground and reporting to Government as well as the provincial authorities.” “I just hope our people are doing well out there despite heat during the day and the cold during the night that is becoming so unbearable, and I will not be surprised if people are starting to get sick, go hungry and have no water.” Mr Dilu further stated while everyone is sweltering in the heat and catching cold in the night, there is no official word from the NDES or from the provincial headquarters on the weather that is developing. Dilu added that in recent years, the weather has become unpredictable due to global warming and its impact on the climate around the world. “We have wet season and dry season and in the past, our people knew exactly when both weather patterns started and ended, and they planned their gardens and other traditional activities around them but today it has become difficult, and this has affected food production around the country.” He further added that back in the 70s and 80s, state agencies like the National Disaster and Emergency Services, the disciplinary forces, the provincial affairs department, and the provincial departments would have moved already and attend to places affected by drought and El-Nino. “The authorities would be in the villages assessing the situation and reporting to the government on what was happening on the ground and getting help from the communities.” “In those days, the official response in times of natural disasters was spontaneous but it seems, but today state agencies tasked to watch over such natural threats seem to play the wait and see game.” He is further calling on National Disaster and Emergency Service to go into province Chimbu, Hela, Southern Highlands and others who are under the drought watch and start making assessment as soon as possible.