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What happened, where and when?
The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) consists of 30 atolls and 5 isolated islands, making up a total of 1,225 islands and islets. These are divided into two island chains: the Ralik Chain and the Ratak Chain. The RMI is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to its geographic and topographic characteristics. The islands and atolls are low-lying, with an average elevation of less than two meters above sea level, making them particularly susceptible to rising sea levels and other impacts of climate change.
Droughts have become more frequent and severe over the past decade in the RMI, exacerbating water scarcity and affecting agricultural productivity. Severe droughts in 2015-2016, exacerbated by El Niño, caused widespread water shortages and economic damages, affecting more than half of the population. In 2019, the RMI faced one of its worst droughts, prompting the government to declare a state of emergency. This drought affected the northern atolls the most, where residents had to rely on emergency water shipments and desalination units to meet their basic water needs. The drought conditions persisted into 2020, exacerbating the already strained water resources and leading to increased salinity in the soil, which further hindered agricultural activities.
The situation slightly improved in 2021 and 2022 with some rainfall, but the overall trend of decreasing precipitation continued. By late 2023 and early 2024, the drought conditions had worsened again, with many atolls experiencing severe water shortages. The US Drought Monitoring Report from February 2024 highlighted that Kwajalein Atoll and Wotje Atoll had escalated to severe drought conditions, while Majuro and Jaluit were categorized as abnormally dry.
The weather and drought conditions in the Marshall Islands during the 2023/2024 drought have been heavily influenced by the El Niño phenomenon, which has led to significantly reduced rainfall and exacerbated drought conditions. The El Niño event has caused belownormal rainfall across much of the region, including the Marshall Islands. This has resulted in prolonged dry spells and severe drought conditions. Sea surface temperatures (SSTs) have also been above normal, contributing to the dry conditions. The Marshall Islands experienced a significant rainfall deficit, with some areas receiving less than half of their usual precipitation. For instance, Majuro recorded only 5.11 inches of rain in February 2024, which is 2.5 inches below the average. The lack of rainfall has led to critical water shortages, affecting both drinking water supplies and agricultural activities. Reservoir levels have dropped significantly, with Majuro's reservoir reaching only 71% of its total capacity by February 2024. (https://www.drought.gov/sites/default/files/2024-03/Pacific%20Winter%202024.pdf).
These recurring and worsening drought conditions have had profound impacts on the communities within the RMI. The lack of reliable water sources has led to increased reliance on imported water and desalination units. The agricultural sector, which many communities depend on for their livelihoods, has suffered due to the inability to grow crops in saline soils. The persistent drought conditions have increased soil salinity, further hindering crop growth and food security. This has led to reduced agricultural productivity, threatening the livelihoods of farmers and increasing dependency on imported food. The economic strain from these conditions is significant, as the costs of importing water and food rise, and local agricultural output declines.
Following the increased impact of the drought in 2024, the Marshall Islands Red Cross Society (MIRCS) requested a DREF allocation to support communities affected by the drought.