Republic of the Marshall Islands - The small island states of the Pacific are suffering from one of the worst El Niño phenomena on record, with a state of disaster already declared in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). Drinking water is already compromised and there is likely to be serious damage to crops.

IOM is providing continued technical support to the government of the RMI during this emergency response through its ongoing USAID-funded Disaster Preparedness for Effective Response (“PREPARE”) program.

This includes technical assistance on assessments, reports, response plan drafting and implementation and coordination.

“We don’t want to sound alarmist, but the situation is again serious in the Marshall Islands,” said IOM RMI Chief of Mission Stuart Simpson. “Without rain there is limited fresh water, and without fresh water we will see an increase in contagious diseases, as well as stress on food supplies.”

Last month, IOM coordinated damage assessments conducted by the Governments of the United States and RMI subject matter experts. The joint assessment evaluated the impact of El Niño-induced drought and assessed 16 atolls/islands (32 communities).

It recommended supplemental food assistance for select communities, ongoing support to meet water, sanitation and health priority needs, hygiene promotion, rainwater harvesting repairs and maintenance to reverse osmosis water supply units.

USAID released fifteen 360-gallon-per-day (GPD) reverse osmosis (RO) units, which are now installed across the RMI. IOM monitors and maintains the units, alongside government staff and local technical experts from the Majuro Water and Sewer Company.

Support from the Australian and US governments has allowed IOM to procure eight additional 360 GPD RO units and three 800 GPD RO units, which will arrive in the capital Majuro at the beginning of May.

Some 1,900 ten-litre collapsible jerry cans have been distributed to the outer islands (Namu Atoll, Ailinglalap Atoll and Jaluit Atoll) to ensure safe water transportation and storage from water distribution points and RO units. IOM is in the process of procuring additional jerry cans to reach the remaining affected areas.

As of April 14, IOM has distributed almost 12,500 bars of locally procured soap to nine atolls to promote safe sanitation and hygiene practices to reduce spread of communicable diseases. It is in the process of procuring additional sanitation and hygiene products to meet SPHERE (universal emergency) standards at a household level and to promote sanitation and hygiene in schools.

IOM Marshall Islands is working under the leadership of the Office of the Chief Secretary, the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), and the Emergency Clusters, in tandem with local partners, to identify and meet immediate and emerging humanitarian needs.

For further information, please contact Stuart Simpson at IOM Micronesia, Tel: +691 9262460, Email ssimpson@iom.int