Tuvalu Declares State of Emergency Over Fresh Water Shortages
, one of the world’s smallest independent nations with about 10,500 residents, has declared a state of emergency due to severe water shortages, officials said Monday.
A Red Cross situation report released last week revealed the tiny country, located in the Pacific Ocean midway between Hawaii and Australia, heavily relied on rainwater, which had been scarce this year because of a La Nina weather pattern across the Pacific.
Further forecasts by local meteorologists predict that the current “dry spell” will continue and that Tuvalu and other Pacific islands will not receive “decent” amounts of rain until perhaps December.
In response to Tuvalu’s cry for help, New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully sent an air force transport plane carrying containers of water and two desalination units which he said arrived at the tiny nation on Monday.
Tuvalu, which gained independence from Great Britain in 1978 but was visited by the Queen and Prince Philip in 1982, isn’t the only Pacific island running out of fresh water after six months of low rainfall.
Officials from Australia and New Zealand have said they are worried about other islands in the region, including Tokelau.
According to McCully, he and others were working to try to find long-term solutions to sustain the group of islands during the coming months. He said they will be relying on the help of other nations.
“New Zealand will be working with partners and other donors to consider the best medium-to-long-term response options.”
