(Majuro, Marshall Islands) The International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) has launched an international emergency appeal for assistance to help drought-affected atolls in the Marshall Islands.
The appeal would help support families in the six outer islands in the northern region of the Marshall Islands says Victoria Bannon, IFRC’s RMI Drought Operations Manager.
In May, the IFRC dispatched a team to establish a temporary office on Majuro with aim to assist families who are struggling in the face of the drought disaster.
Bannon says one of the main focuses of their six-month operation is to support these affected communities in re-establishing or maintaining their water catchment systems for rainwater as well as their storage capacities.
“We see this is very important because one of the main concerns we have is if communities own water catchments and household water catchments are inadequate their going to be facing the same situation year after year”, Bannon told OTV on Majuro.
While Forum Leaders gathered at the International Conference Center in Majuro this week for the formal Pacific Islands Forum Leader’s meeting, IFRC called on the international community to pledge stronger support for risk reduction programs to help communities adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Bannon says not only is it important for the Pacific to prepare in the international and national levels, “if we don’t invest adequately in supporting households to prepare themselves were going to see the communities suffering even more seriously from drought whether through water shortages or health issues.”
Bannon notes that New Zealand has pledged to support low-lying Pacific Island nations in better managing their freshwater resources and hopes it encourages further attention and investment.
Red Cross particularly New Zealand Red Cross was among the first to respond to the drought disaster that has over the past year affected thousands of Marshall Islanders.
As communities in the north becomes more concerned about their water supply and their capacity to withstand the next dry spell, Bonnan says Red Cross is now working “to ensure that households have the facilities they need to be able to combat the next dry season” and ensure that this situation does not recur.
At the meantime, water and food distribution operations are still ongoing in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) among other agencies, in support of the Marshall Islands’ response and recovery plan.
