Rain eases dry spell in Kiunga

The prolonged dry weather experienced in Kiunga and surrounding communities since the end of May has finally eased following rainfall over the past few days.

For almost three weeks in June, the district experienced little to no rainfall, causing the Fly River to drop significantly.

The low river level affected river transport, making it difficult for boats to navigate and deliver essential supplies to business houses, government institutions, NGOs, and rural communities that depend on the river for transport.

A local in Kiunga, Senior Shintaro Dumo tells NBC News "On Thursday last week we experienced rainfall which continued throughout the weekend. It has brought much-needed relief.

The rain has improved water availability for residents and increased the water level of the Fly River, allowing boats to anchor safely and offload essential cargo".

Although the recent rainfall has improved the situation, continued rainfall will be important to restore river levels further and ensure a reliable water supply for communities across the district.