Our Footprint

“Papua New Guinea is one of the hardest places to deliver aid in the world.” — Bill Gates

Delivering basic services in Papua New Guinea (PNG) poses enormous challenges with 84 percent of the population living in remote, rural areas. These communities are scattered over rugged terrain, complex river systems, vast expanses of ocean, and an extensive coastline – just a few hundred kilometres from Australia’s coast.

In collaboration with national, provincial, and district health authorities, YWAM MS helps overcome the challenge by accessing isolated communities throughout the Southern Region and Morobe Province via our Training and Medical Ship, MV YWAM PNG, and our land-based teams.

Since first engaging in Papua New Guinea with the MV Pacific Link in 2010, YWAM MS has seen outreaches take place regularly across the Southern Region and Morobe Province. Each new engagement came after receiving an invitation from the respective Province.

In 2020-21, YWAM MS adjusted the operational footprint of the MV YWAM PNG to help respond to the emergence and outbreak of COVID-19 in Papua New Guinea. Through collaborative planning and in consultation with key stakeholders in Papua New Guinea and Australia, YWAM MS has begun to focus its outreach activities principally on the Western Province of PNG, with personnel already having participated in collaborative health patrols across the South Fly and Middle Fly Districts.