Communities across North Fly District, Western Province, are facing a growing water crisis, with wells drying up, the Fly River at critically low levels and residents being forced to travel into remote areas in search of water.

North Fly District Health Manager Rody Ukin said the district has gone almost three months without significant rainfall, with the situation becoming particularly severe over the past four weeks.

“We are living by the grace of God. People are looking for water here and there, and all the wells have dried up," Ukin said, adding that the mighty Fly River is also drying up.

Ukin said many communities depend on rainfall to replenish water sources, including water collected from the mountains.

However, the prolonged dry spell has left household water tanks empty and forced some residents to leave their homes to search for water in streams and remaining water wells.

He said the shortage was also affecting Kiunga town, where the town water supply was operating under extremely low pressure.

Authorities are working to address the shortage, including efforts to remove illegal connections from the town water system and explore additional water sources.

Ukin said water bowsers were also being considered to transport water to communities experiencing the greatest shortages.

He said deeper water bores could provide a longer-term solution, with some organizations already beginning drilling activities in parts of the district.

Ukin warned that shallow wells may not provide a reliable source of water as the dry conditions continue.

“Water has become a real problem,” he said.

The district is now working with the provincial disaster team to develop a coordinated response to the continuing dry spell.

Ukin said authorities were also preparing reports from health, education, agriculture and other sectors to assess the full impact of the drought.

For communities across North Fly, the immediate priority remains access to safe drinking water as authorities wait for more substantial rainfall.