East Arnhem Land homelands cut off from food and fuel due to NT flooding

Australia Broadcast Center

01-05-2025

Hundreds of people living on remote homelands in the Northern Territory have been cut off from essential services following flooding in remote east Arnhem Land.
The situation comes one week after a tropical low passed near the East Arnhem coastline and brought heavy rain to north-eastern parts of the NT.
The Aboriginal corporation representing Yolŋu people who live on traditional lands in the region said flooded roads and airstrips were preventing 500 people from accessing fuel, food and healthcare services.
The chief executive of Laynhapuy Homelands Corporation (LHC), Glenda Abraham, said while up to eight homelands were at "critical" levels of concern, the Bäniyala homeland was in most urgent need of assistance.
"Fuel will be running out next week," Ms Abraham said.
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It can take up to three weeks for us to get the road dry enough and with a proper permit to be able to deliver fuel to Bäniyala.
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Located 200km south of Nhulunbuy and home to 138 people, Baniyala is wholly reliant on electricity from fuel-powered generators.
"No fuel in Bäniyala means we can't run our fridges, our freezers for food security, and obviously the right provision for food safety," Ms Abraham said.
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Medical equipment cannot run. Things like Starlink for communication programs can't run.
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Ms Abraham said many of the 27 homelands LHC represented had not received food deliveries since mid-April.
A tropical low brought hundreds of millimetres of rain to the area.
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As a result, the corporation has been contracting a third-party aviation company to attempt to deliver supplies.
"We have a had mass decline in landings for various reasons, and it's at the safety of their pilots as well, because some of the runways are just not open," Ms Abraham said.
"We've got massive potholes and wash outs on the sides [of the runway] so planes are not able to land."
The Laynhapuy Homelands Corporation is calling for more road funding in the area.
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LHC chair Yananymul Munungurr said some people were risking driving through floodwaters to access food.
"If they have an accident, there is no help. This is the same story for many families trying to get food and help in the homelands," she said.
"Our people are hungry, need fuel and health supplies. We need the roads to be looked after better because sea and air is not always going to be the solution.
"We need government to understand this and support our people, especially in times of need and we are in need today."
The NT government has been contacted for comment.
Yananyumul Mununggurr says her people need more support from the NT government.
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