Papua New Guinea report

Papua New Guinea's mountainous terrain means equipment often has to be flown in by air and then carried to villages by communities.

Credit: WaterAid

In 2004 we began work in the mountainous and mostly inaccessible country of Papua New Guinea, supporting partners on projects in rural schools.

Occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and other smaller islands, the country lies on the western rim of the Pacific Ocean between Australia and Asia. Only 20% of its people live in urban centres making it one of the most rural-based populations in the world.

One in ten children here die before their fifth birthday. And as most rural households depend on unsafe water from rivers, springs, ponds, lakes or dams, this is often due to illnesses caused by a lack of safe water and sanitation.

WaterAid chose to start with a school programme because children are often the most vulnerable to diseases and are quick to take on new ideas and take them home to their families.

Mr James, from Korofeigu Primary School, one of the schools that benefited from WaterAid's work, said:

"The project will be of long term benefit, value and also affordable in terms of maintenance. It will be remembered as a great gift to our school."

After three years of supporting projects in schools, over 14,750 students now have access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene education.

As one of the world's most culturally diverse countries, access to resources such as water is a major trigger for conflict between neighbouring tribes. And so in 2006 WaterAid also began supporting the water element of Oxfam Australia's peace building initiatives, benefiting an additional 4,700 people in the Highlands.

The project has provided safe water for people who previously relied on a river which was dangerously polluted by mining. School attendance has improved as children no longer have to collect their family's water and with safe water in community clinics women are able to give birth in a hygienic environment.

This year we plan to extend our work in the schools and Highlands as well as initiating a new programme in Wewak, the capital of the East Sepik province.