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October – December 2011
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the need for emergency measures to provide
sufficient safe water for the populations living on
these two islands.
Three specialists Fereti Atu (Plant Health Unit),
Josaia Samuela (Health Advancement Unit)
and Peter Sinclair (SOPAC Water Unit) from
SPC arrived in Funafuti to work with the Tuvalu
National Disaster Committee to assess the
situation on Funafuti whilst finalising preparations
for an assessment of the six atolls to the north:
Nukufetau, Vaitupu, Nui, Nanumanga, Nanumea
and Niutao.
The purpose of this Rapid Assessment Mission
was to ascertain the extent and the severity of
the dry weather on these six atolls, to determine
the need for emergency water supply, identify
possible interventions which could be acted
upon to provide short and longer term solutions
to the ongoing water needs on these islands, to
reduce the potential for water shortages in the
future, and to provide information on what the
impacts of an extended period of reduced rainfall
has had on human and animal health and food
security.
Furthermore, the Disaster Risk Reduction
Project (B-Envelope) funded by the European
Union and implemented by SPC SOPAC Division
has been supporting the Government of Tuvalu
with more rainwater tanks since 2010. A total of
Euro 700,000 was allocated under the Project
to address water security in Tuvalu. SOPAC has
signed a new contract with Rotomould (Tuvalu)
Ltd to supply twenty five rainwater tanks with
10,000 litre capacity. The Project Manager of
the B-Envelope Project, George Beck, stated
that this is additional to the 310 rainwater tanks
already supplied and installed by the Project.
The Government of Tuvalu indicated that the
priority is in providing more tanks for houses on
Funafuti with balances remaining in the project.
The Water Programme of SOPAC is working very
closely with the Government of Tuvalu and other
development partners to address the immediate
need of providing fresh water to Tuvalu. The
additional tanks will increase storage capacity
for households on Funafuti and ensure that the
people have access to fresh water during dry
periods.
George Beck further added that, “while it is
important that we increase the storage capacity
for residents in Tuvalu it is also equally important
to address water management issues particularly
in keeping water catchments clean”. The
B-Envelope Project is planning to launch a major
training and awareness programme in Tuvalu in
the first quarter 2012, with the Government of
Tuvalu and key stakeholders to address water
quality.
Newly installed water tank in Tuvalu funded by the B-Envelope Project.