June 24th, 2013 – Majuro. Today the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has launched an 803,000 Swiss Franc (USD 857,000) Emergency Appeal to fund a drought relief and recovery operation that will assist more than 3,400 people spread across six affected atolls in the Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI).
According to the RMI Government the drought, which took hold in April, is affecting some 6,400 people across 15 of the northern atolls/islands – almost half of the country. With the lack of water, staple crops have withered and the most pressing humanitarian needs are access to safe drinking water and food.
The IFRC operation will last for six months and will be focused mainly on addressing water scarcity and preventing waterborne diseases by enabling communities in drought hit communities to produce and collect drinking water.
Reverse osmosis water producing units capable of converting 200 gallons per day (using solar energy) of sea water into drinking water, have been positioned in Ailuk, Likiep, Maloelap, Mejit, Namu and Wotje, where the IFRC will continue its work with communities to put in place long-term safeguards that will help them to become more resilient to future droughts. Such projects include installing water tanks and roof catchment guttering to individual homes for harvesting rainwater.
“The majority of household water tanks are empty and wells are contaminated with salt water. Even though there has been some rainfall it will take months for water sources to be replenished and this influences when people can plant and harvest their crops,” explains Paul Grierson, the IFRC’s team leader in the Marshall Islands.
Earlier through May and June, an IFRC team consisting of a team leader, a water and sanitation delegate and a Pacific Regional Disaster Response Team (RDRT) member were deployed to the Marshall Islands. Also in May, four water and sanitation short-term delegates were also deployed by the New Zealand Red Cross, each for a period of two weeks. Accompanied by RMI government counterparts from the Majuro Water and Sewerage Company, they were sent to atolls and islands to set up, operate and train others to operate portable reverse osmosis units. In addition to water production and distribution, the teams also carried out community messaging on effective water resource management, safe water and good hygiene practices.
For further information and to set up interviews contact:
In Majuro: Paul Grierson, IFRC disaster management delegate, Pacific Regional Office. Tel: +692 455 8875 paul.grierson@ifrc.org
In Suva: Ysabeau Rycx, IFRC disaster management coordinator, Pacific Regional Office. Tel: +6799992509 ysabeau.rycx@ifrc.org
In Kuala Lumpur: Patrick Fuller, IFRC communications manager, Asia Pacific Tel: +60122308451 patrick.fuller@ifrc.org
Notes for editors;
Photographs of the Red Cross drought response in the Marshall Islands are available from the IFRC’s image library at http://www.ifrc.org/en/news-and-media/image-library/
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest volunteer-based humanitarian network, reaching 150 million people each year through its 187 member National Societies. Together, the IFRC acts before, during and after disasters and health emergencies to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people. It does so with impartiality as to nationality, race, gender, religious beliefs, class and political opinions. For more information, please visit www.ifrc.org. You can also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.