Tuvalu Declares State Of Emergency - Drinking Water Supply Now Measured In Days

[hatrack]

AUSTRALIA has responded to an SOS from the tiny Pacific nation of Tuvalu, which is days away from running out of water. The federal government has sent officials and 1000 rehydration packs to Tuvalu's hospital to treat sickness caused by lack of water for sanitation as other governments and the Red Cross send thousands of litres of water.

Speaking from the capital, Funafuti, Tuvalu's disaster co-ordinator, Sumeo Silu, told the Herald: ''We have less than four or five days. We are rationing water well below the United Nations refugee rate <20 litres per person> with just 40 litres per household. An average household here has 10 to 12 people.'' Schools have closed and the government has declared a state of emergency. Australian aid arrived on a New Zealand Hercules aircraft on Wednesday, delivering water, money for fuel for a water supply truck and desalination plants.

The federal government is considering sending an Australian defence aircraft to help.

''It's mostly climate change,'' Mr Silu said of the crisis. ''Normally this is our rainy season but there's no rain. Even our root crops have died from the salt.''

EDIT

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/water-issues/australia-helps-as-tuvalu-runs-dry-20111006-1lbrz.html

[phantom power]

1. I'd say we've lost an island. Time to leave.

Welcome to the climate refugee club, what's your t-shirt size?