Tuvalu Declares Drought Emergency

In Australasia, Drought & Fires, News Headlines

The Pacific island nation of Tuvalu has declared a state of emergency because of a water shortage.

With drought conditions and the breakdown of existing desalination plants, a state of emergency has been declared in the capital and also other outlying islands.

The water management adviser with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, David Hebblethwaite, says if no reliable supply can be put in place, the shortage could start affecting the health of Tuvalu’s 10,000 residents.

“Potentially medical supplies if a prolonged drought leads to an escalation of diahorreal diseases, for example,” he said.

Surveys on Tuvalu have found the shortage has already led to to the deaths of some animals.

New Zealand has committed to fly in a new plant to help provide fresh water.

Its foreign minister, Murray McCully, says New Zealand officials are working with aid agencies including the Red Cross to ease the crisis.

A Red Cross report released last week said the former British colony relied mostly on rainwater, which had been scarce this year because of a La Nina weather pattern across the Pacific.

You may also read!

Millions In China Face Arsenic Poisoning

Nearly 20 million people in China live in areas at high risk of arsenic contamination in their water supplies,

Read More...

Biblical Wormwood Arrives In India

Tubewells in seven wards of Chittagong City Corporation are pumping water with arsenic contamination 10 times higher than the

Read More...

34 Meter Tsunami Could Hit Japan

TOKYO (AP)—Much of Japan's Pacific coast could be inundated by a tsunami more than 34 meters (112 feet) high

Read More...

Mobile Sliding Menu