Pacific / Fiji

EU provides cash for tanks to ease Fiji drought

12:43 pm on 23 December 2015

Fiji's drought-stricken residents in the Western Division are set for some relief with the delivery of water tanks.

The European Union has provided over a million euros to Fiji which will fund a new emergency operations centre and help the supply of water to dry parts in Nadi, Nadroga and Ba provinces, as well as out to the remote Yasawa islands.

The Director of the National Disaster Management Office, Akapusi Tuifagalele, says a low pressure system has brought rain recently to relieve residents but the drought is expected to last until the end of March.

"The worst-case-scenario we have here is that if we go back to the drought situation that we have had before then it will not take long for us before we go back into the carting of water, the supply of water and also the rationing of water, just to ensure that we are sustainable during this festive season."

Mr Tuifagalele says the tanks will be used for public purposes and re-used in future droughts.