The United States is providing $US500,000 in humanitarian assistance to respond to the drought across Kiribati due to below normal rainfall, exacerbated by the impacts of climate change.
So far this year, some areas have recorded less than 2.3 inches of rainfall.
Bottles of water shipped to Banaba Photo: Facebook / Tekiana Leupena
The resulting drought has affected all 123,000 people in Kiribati, including 94,000 people in the Gilbert Islands, which is heavily dependent on rainwater harvesting.
America's Charge'd'Affaires Rebecca Owen said the US stands with Kiribati through the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
The funding includes an initial payment to immediately strengthen the capacity of the government to monitor groundwater, including the salinity levels, and provide critical water conservation to affected populations.
US officials in the Pacific and Washington are closely monitoring humanitarian impacts of this drought in coordination with partners throughout the region.
USAID said it has long supported early recovery, risk reduction, and resilience initiatives throughout the Pacific, including in Kiribati, to support disaster preparedness and response capacities.
It said that in Kiribati this includes efforts to mobilise youth and volunteers in disaster preparedness through the Kiribati Red Cross Society and capacity building for the group through the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
USAID said it will continue to work with partners year-round to equip communities to withstand disasters.