The governor of Chimbu Province in Papua New Guinea says the effects of El Niño there are so severe schools are closing, public servants aren't working and the hospital is shutting its doors.
Noah Kool says 300,000 people in the province have been affected by frosts and drought, which has caused water supplies to dry up and food gardens to be destroyed.
Mr Kool says the lack of water in Chimbu's main town, Kundiawa, is an emergency situation.
"For our town water, [I'm] looking around for money to pump in water from another source to the town, and keep our hospital open, so we can address the diseases that come to our hospital. And help our public servants to have water so they can be ready to face, go out and address the El Niño issues as well."
Noah Kool says the province needs more aid from the national government.
Mr Kool says reports of deaths related to the extreme weather event, which is expected to last into next year, have not been confirmed.
