The Asian Development Bank has provided a $US4 million emergency grant to the Government of Tuvalu to help drought relief efforts.
The Tuvalu government declared a State of Public Emergency on November 8 due to the extreme drought conditions affecting the country.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is an Asia regional development organization dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific. Photo: AFP/ Jay Directo
It then requested financial assistance from the bank on November 11.
The money comes from the Bank's Pacific Disaster Resilience Program Phase 3.
Aaron Batten from the Asian Development Bank's Pacific Subregional Office said the persistent drought has exhausted rainwater supplies and made groundwater sources unsafe to drink.
"The state of public emergency in Tuvalu triggered by historically low levels of rainfall underscores the compounding impacts of the climate crisis to Pacific island countries," he said.
"Even when rain returns to the affected areas, it could take up to 12 months for food crops to recover, resulting in continuing food insecurity."
Tuvalu Governor General, Sir Tofinga Vaevalu Falani, said earlier this month the State of Emergency would continue for 14 days unless revoked or varied.
Meanwhile, the country is grappling with a covid-19 outbreak with hundreds of cases.
The Asian Development Bank has also approved a $US7.5 million policy-based grant to help the Samoan economy rebound from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The grant is financed by the Asian Development Fund, which provides grants to ADB's poorest and most vulnerable developing member countries.
The Bank's Public Sector Economist and Program Team Leader, James Webb, says the first phase of the program will help the Government of Samoa transition from crisis response to inclusive fiscal and private sector recovery.
The program comprises two parts that will improve fiscal management and sustainability, promote inclusive private sector recovery, and strengthen finance sector development and inclusion.