Disaster Risk Reduction and Displacement in Papua

Muse Mohammed

Home to 7.2 million people as well as over 800 spoken languages, Papua New Guinea (PNG) is a country that ranges greatly in traditions, lifestyles, agriculture, transportation, and local markets. One of the country’s strongest traits is that of tradition and the knowledge and values that is passed down from generation to generation. Over the centuries, humans have been faced with various types of hazards, most of which turned into disasters. For many living in the Pacific nation, disasters are simply a fact of life in both natural and man-made varieties. Additionally, PNG ranks in among the top 6 nations worldwide with having the highest percentage of its population exposed to a multitude of hazards. To make matters worse, large swaths of the pacific nation are extremely isolated making access a top issue for locals as well as responders in the event of a disaster.