HIGHLIGHTS

• Prolonged dry weather has triggered significant drought in northern Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI)

• A U.S. Government (USG) preliminary damage assessment team is scheduled to begin assessments of drought-affected areas in the coming days

• To date, USAID has responded with reverse osmosis machines and other pre-positioned relief supplies

Updated 8 May 2013, 10:30 AEST

There's no relief in sight for the drought affected region of the northern Marshall Islands.

And as the rain holds off conditions will only get worse.

An estimated 5,000 people in the northern atolls are experiencing severe drought conditions with an additional 11,000 people affected by crop loss due tio the lack of rain.

Drinking water is being rationed and there's no water for bathing or other domestic purposes.

OVERVIEW

Press Briefing Notes Friday 12th October 2012 Spokesperson: Jumbe Omari Jumbe

As the world marks the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (13/10), IOM has announced the start of a major Asian initiative to assist vulnerable communities to prepare for and reduce the risk of natural disasters.

The organization has received USD17 million, mainly from the USA and Australia, which will be used primarily for community-based disaster risk reduction, but also to build capacity in governments and national partners.

Coordination in the Pacific Region Confirming that Pacific Island Countries (hereinafter referred to as ‘PICs’) have great potential for economic growth while facing various challenges, including sustainable development,

Renewing recognition of the growing importance to Japan and the United States of strengthening relations with PICs,

Recognizing the need to create open and multi-layered governmental and civil society networks in order to establish a prosperous and stable order in the Asia-Pacific region,

The Sixth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM 6)

Okinawa 'Kizuna' Declaration

Okinawa, Japan, 25-26 May 2012

In brief

Programme outcome

Red Cross National Societies are community-based organizations. Providing support to improve the functioning of local Red Cross institutions, programmes and resulting services, which then have an impact on vulnerable people, is at the heart of the Pacific regional office’s mandate.

Programme activities include:

The Pacific region covers a vast geographical area comprising thousands of islands and atolls. The majority of Pacific Island countries contend with the challenges of smallness and geographic isolation. The Pacific Island countries are heavily aid-assisted.