‘My whole family was buried. Your support gave me hope when I had nothing left.’ 
‘I lost my home and livelihood. This assistance is helping my family face the challenges ahead.’ 
‘My school was destroyed, but this support is restoring my hope.’ 

These are just some of the words from people that received support from our Partner and other Christian organisations in the wake of Papua New Guinea’s deadly landslides. 

On May 24, 2024, landslides in the Enga Province killed more than 2,000 people and left 1,600 without homes, food, or necessities. Through generous supporters like you, our Partner in PNG worked with a network of churches to provide aid immediately after the landslide, and in the critically important months following. 

Over the last year, 9,199 people received humanitarian assistance, delivered by Partner staff members and trained church volunteers. This included: 

  • Food and basic items to help people survive 
  • Psychological support and training 
  • Temporary shelter for families without homes 

Here’s a snapshot of the support you helped provide, through the incredible work of our Partners along with other Christian organisations. 

Emergency Relief 

In the immediate aftermath of the landslide, our Partner was part of a project that provided 9,199 people with emergency food and non-food items, including pantry staples (e.g. rice, noodles and canned fish), solar lights, warm clothing, blankets and hygiene kits.

These items meant people could focus on the task of rebuilding their lives without worrying about how to meet their family’s daily needs. One recipient, a widow, said, ‘Without the food provided, I don’t know how I would have cared for my children. The road to recovery is long but knowing that people out there care about us has given me hope’.

The road to recovery is long but knowing that people out there care about us has given me hope.

Psychological Support

Disasters take an emotional toll on people in impacted communities, and without intervention, this can have a long-term impact on mental health. 

Thanks to your generosity, our Partner was part of efforts to provide psychosocial training for 22 frontline responders, including pastors, health workers, and community leaders. The training covered topics like trauma awareness, psychological first aid, stress management, and processing grief. 

Since then, trainees have run individual and family sessions, and initiated peer support groups in impacted communities. One participant shared, ‘Before the training, I did not understand what trauma really was. Now I know how to talk to my children and neighbours when they are going through pain.’ 

Temporary Shelter 

Our Partner was part of efforts to provide 728 shelter kits to families who had lost their homes in the landslide. Immediately after the disaster, 240 vulnerable households received kits with materials such as tarpaulins, nails, hammers and bush knives. Our Partner also provided the Enga provincial government with 488 kits including items such as roofing iron, nails and plywood, for distribution to communities.

The kits meant that families could build temporary shelters to keep their families safe while rebuilding their homes. ‘After receiving the shelter kit, I was able to build a small space for my family to sleep safely again,’ one recipient said.

After receiving the shelter kit, I was able to build a small space for my family to sleep safely again.

Support That Lasts

At Baptist World Aid, one of our priorities is to deliver emergency aid in a sustainable way, so local communities can continue to rebuild after agencies are no longer on the ground to provide assistance. 

Our Partners in PNG worked with the Enga provincial government to provide support, integrating their aid efforts with the government’s long-term response and recovery  plans so communities can continue the work of recovery.  

One Provincial Administrator thanked our Partners for working closely with the local government, and for strengthening their ability to provide support. He said, ‘I thank the Church Partners for continuing to provide support to our landslide affected people’.   

I thank the Church Partners for continuing to provide support to our landslide affected people. 

Similarly, pastors who received psychological training are now equipped to provide long-term emotional support. ‘It helped me understand trauma and how to support my community,’ one pastor shared. ‘I now feel confident to raise awareness and help others.’ 

Keep Praying For PNG 

We were saddened to hear that on 30 October, another landslide occurred in the Enga Province, impacting the small village of Kukas. Police report that 21 people have been killed, and five are critically injured.  

Please join us in praying for: 
• God’s comfort and presence for those who have lost their loved ones
• That those who are injured would receive medical care to help them recover
• Our Partners who have been personally impacted by this landslide—that God would strengthen them, minister to their spirits, and draw near.  

Thank you for being part of this response and helping communities rebuild their lives. We continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in Enga Province—that God would walk with them as they rebuild their homes, and serve their neighbours in need.