Papua New Guinea — Floods Flash Update (13 September 2024)

On the 2^nd of September 2024 heavy rains over the Mendi river flooded settlements and other infrastructures, including local businesses of Mendi village, the capital of the Southern Highlands Province, in Papua New Guinea. This resulted in loss and damages of properties, shelters, and food crops. Other villages situated at the outskirts of this village, such as for Kumin ward 2 (south of Mendi) and Mopa (North of Mendi), were also equally impacted. However, as the town of Mendi lies between the two, where it hosts the busy Mangani market and the Mangani bridge linking the two parts of the town, it is estimated to have affected 3,000 individuals whose mobility were heavily restricted, with access to markets and basic needs being of primary concern. As a result, a rapid assessment was conducted by DTM in the following days along the Mangani riverbanks and with support from governmental partners. This assessment was conducted through the five settlements of Punwaip, Bata re, Kandep, and Upper Mendi / Forestry and Wakwak-Surup.