One year on after the earthquake in Papua New Guinea

The situation UNICEF Papua New Guinea found itself in the immediate aftermath of the February 2018 magnitude 7.5 earthquake - with ground zero in the isolated Highlands region - was not enviable. We would need to deploy to an active conflict zone with almost no operational presence, few implementing partners on the ground and with very limited prior experience in dealing with a large-scale humanitarian emergency in the region.

The metal of UNICEF PNG would be rigorously tested: required would be innovative approaches and flexibility to work in an emergency with seven other agencies under the ‘Delivering as One UN’ modality. Perhaps not fully realized early on was that, due to tribal violence, staff would be directly exposed to life-threatening attacks on several occasions.

The earthquake - the strongest in PNG’s modern history - caused devastating landslides and destruction across four provinces and increased vulnerability in an already precarious food situation. PNG has one of the world’s highest rates of stunting (49%) and low routine immunization created a perfect storm for a potential public health emergency, actually sparking a major nationwide polio outbreak a few months later.

On Day One, emergency measures were adopted to ensure that children could maintain their nutritional status, continue to receive education and feel protected. In response to increasing dangers for women, learning and empowerment spaces and safe spaces were established.

It was decided to rapidly scale up relief operations to meet the needs of the 500,000 people impacted, specifically 270,000 people, including 125,000 children, in need of immediate life-saving assistance. Surge capacity was deployed from 14 UNICEF Country Offices, and our offices in New York, Copenhagen, Bangkok and the Australian National Committee.

Damage to schools was widespread with UNICEF the only provider of emergency education response; tents, safe learning spaces and WASH facilities helped restore a sense of normalcy.

To reach remote communities with relief items, UNICEF deployed supplies via helicopters and small aircraft - a bold decision which would skyrocket costs and eventually fundraising goals.

Much of the area hit by the earthquake was unmapped by humanitarian agencies. With the Catholic Church having a widespread presence, partnerships were secured. Sister Agnece, part of a team of sisters hosting UN staff in Mendi under the most difficult of conditions, said: “When the earthquake happened I lived with fear…It was so good to have the UN. When we are many together the difference is huge.”

In order to save the lives of vulnerable young children, innovation was the key. Among other initiatives, Bebi Kol Kilok - a simple wrist device - was introduced to alert parents to hypothermia in infants. As a legacy of UNICEF’s interventions, it is now being scaled up nationwide.

Work in the earthquake-effected areas hasn’t ended. Through this tragedy a discovery of multiple such emergencies has led to a UN wide area-based development programme being initiated in conflict-prone regions severely under-serviced.

Said Southern Highlands Provincial Administrator Joseph Cajetan: “You came and comforted the people, provided medicines, relief supplies…saved lives. You’ve gone out of your way and we deeply appreciated it.”