By Amanda Gillies
Drought worries are spreading around the South Pacific as small island nations struggle with a shortage of drinking water.
Earlier this week New Zealand stepped in to help after Tuvalu declared a state of emergency.
Now Tokelau has declared one too, and even parts of Samoa are starting to ration water.
Tuvalu is one of the smallest countries in the world. It’s also low-lying and surrounded by water, but none of that water is fresh.
What fresh water is available is fast running out and being severely rationed.
New Zealand High Commissioner to Tuvalu Gareth Smith says the situation is severe.
“The government has called a national emergency due to the water shortages,” he says.
“Private water tanks are very low. Government is rationing water to two buckets per household per day.”
One of the outer islands, with a population of 330, now has less than 60 litres of drinking water left – and sanitation is a serious concern.
New Zealand has already come to their aid and sent over two desalination plants, which were greeted at the airstrip by hundreds of locals.
The plants were appreciated, Mr Smith says, and he was thanked personally by Tuvalu’s Prime Minister.
Tuvalu relies on rainwater, which meant last year’s light rains affected their supply – and this year the same weather pattern's back again.
There are underground water supplies but these have been contaminated by breaking waves, causing concern crops could be affected by the lack of water.
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