Oceania

Papua New Guinea

Location

Oceania, group of islands including the eastern half of the island of New Guinea between the Coral Sea and the South Pacific Ocean, east of Indonesia.

Law and order remain poor. Incidents of looting and shooting occur without warning in towns. Do not use public transport. Travellers should be met at Port Moresby on arrival. Personal security, general travel, navigation, weapons, gunfire, hot weather injuries, personal hygiene, sanitation / sterilisation, clothing & equipment, emergency first aid, cultures / customs, communications, emergency shelters.

Local water is safe in capital, hotels - use bottled water in rural areas.

Mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothill

Tropical; north-west monsoon (December to March), south-east monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation.

Active volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Ring of Fire"; the country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mud slides; tsunamis.

Avian influenza, bacterial and protozoal diarrhoea, cholera is a serious risk, dengue fever, hepatitis A & B, HIV/AIDS, malaria, polio, typhoid fever, whooping cough, yellow fever.
Hospital: Port Moresby General Hospital, Boroko 111. Tel: 3248200

Rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of growing commercial demand for tropical timber; pollution from mining projects; severe drought.

Road conditions are generally hazardous and driving is commonly erratic. Drivers involved in or who witness a road traffic accident may find themselves at personal risk and should seek police.

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