Water shortages and crop failure in Vanuatu

Transcript

Communities in Vanuatu are experiencing severe water shortages and facing the prospect of total crop failure as drought conditions worsen.

The director of the national disaster management office says many of the communities affected by the drought had just started to find their feet after the devastation of cyclone Pam in March.

Shadrack Welegtabit spoke with Koroi Hawkins about the ongoing response to the drought.

SHADRACK WELEGTABIT: We could say the aftermath of TC Pam and going into El Nino we are still doing humanitarian response by giving out food and water to the recently affected province in Tafea, Shefa, Malampa and we also activated the provincial operation centre to update us with the latest information and data on the unfolding crisis that is currently in country. So those are some of the activities that I could update you with.

KOROI HAWKINS: Right and the drought situation is exacerbating or making the situation harder is it for people?

SW: Yes in some locations where people depend on rainwater people are already requesting for water, meaning they don't have anymore water so the response has been going out and we have coordinated responses with partner agencies to supply water to those locations.

KH: And which locations are these, I am assuming the Shepherd Islands in the North would be one?

SW: Yes well the Shepherd Islands is one and then we are also getting requests from other islands that depend a lot on rainwater so we are getting in some instances it is not the whole island but some certain areas of islands that are around here in Vanuatu

KH: And the outlook is for a long dry spell going into early next year. What kind of problems are you anticipating as the dry spell continues?

SW: Well we are anticipating water shortages. Leading into crop failure  where people will not harvest anymore garden crop and that might also have an impact on peoples health.

KH: And you mentioned ongoing humanitarian work. What phase or which area are you up to in terms of the response to Cyclone Pam?    

SW: Well we are still concentrating in Shefa and Tafea and between Malampa so those are the recently affected islands by Pam. But then the extent of this dry season is also having an impact on a wide scale meaning the whole country will be affected soon.

KH: Are you using your own resources for this is it reaching a stage where you might be again calling on the international community for assistance, with the dry spell?

SW: We have been using what the other countries have given in, in terms of responding to Pam but as the situation unfolds, well into next year we might be requesting assistance from our partners.