Three New Zealand Red Cross aid workers have returned from the remote Marshall Islands after responding in mid-May to a severe drought.
During their time on the outer islands of Ailuk, Enerjeral and Ollet, the team used reverse osmosis desalination units to produce 12,630 litres of water, leaving behind a machine capable of making another 4000 litres of fresh water a day.
Another Red Cross aid worker remains in the Marshalls, and is due on remote Ailuk Island tomorrow to restock fuel, check solar panels and oversee on-going water production.
The Red Cross mission is being supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The tiny Pacific nation has declared a state of national disaster due to a severe drought, which has seen up to 6400 people across 15 atolls surviving on less than a litre of water per person per day. A further 11,000 people have been affected by crop loss.
One of the three returning aid workers, water engineer Ana Zarkovic of Auckland, says when the team arrived the situation was reaching crisis point.
“Some people were using coconut water or the limited fresh water for drinking and the salty water for cooking. They were incredibly resourceful and resilient but were running out of resources.
“The community was overwhelmingly grateful and we were thanked a number of times by the mayor, church ministers, the police, and other local people. It was such a good feeling to be able to help,”she says.
For more information contact: Corinne Ambler, Communications Manager p: +64 27 705 3689 e: corinne.ambler@redcross.org