The Red Cross has initiated a relief effort to aid thousands of individuals grappling with the impact of an intense drought sweeping across the Marshall Islands, exacerbating water scarcity in the Micronesian region.

With the Marshall Islands facing a dire shortage of rainfall, the humanitarian organization has allocated approximately $220,000.00 USD to bolster relief efforts spearheaded by its local branch, aimed at assisting 5,000 individuals among the nearly 14,000 affected by the drought.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the Red Cross underscored the urgent need for access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation facilities, highlighting these as immediate priorities in the drought-stricken areas.

According to the latest data from the US Drought Monitor dated 5 March, two atolls in the Marshall Islands are experiencing severe drought conditions, while the capital city, Majuro, grapples with abnormally dry conditions.

The allocated funds will facilitate initiatives to ensure access to clean water, including the provision of storage solutions and health education programs spanning five months across various islands and atolls, including Ailinglaplap, Jabat, Jaliut, Kwajalein, Lae, Lib, Namu, Ujae, Utirik, and Wotho.

In response to assessment meetings held last week, it was revealed that malfunctioning water-supply equipment, exacerbated by power cuts, has left some residents reliant on contaminated water sources, heightening health risks.

The Marshall Islands Red Cross Society has dispatched teams to assess vulnerabilities and capacities in affected areas, particularly focusing on addressing the aftermath of previous natural disasters alongside the current drought crisis.

As the drought situation escalates across Micronesia, several states, including Saipan in the Northern Marianas, Yap in the FSM, and Kwajalein and Wotje in the Marshalls, as well as Guam, have been grappling with severe drought conditions, prompting FSM President Wesley Simina to declare a state of emergency earlier this month in anticipation of worsening conditions.