From Picturesque to Parched

Photo Credit: Majuro Water and Sewer Company via Huffington Post

Merriam-Webster in its infinite wisdom tells me that a reservoir is "a place where something is kept in store—as an artificial lake where water is collected and kept…" The term's origin? French—and its first appearance in the common lexicon was way back in 1690.¹ For places like the Marshall Islands, this term is an incredibly valuable one.

The Marshall Islands are a small group of atolls (islands formed by coral reefs) out in the Pacific—totaling just 181 square kilometers—or about 70 square miles.² To bring it a little closer to home, it's about half the size of the city of Detroit, Michigan (138.76 square miles).³ 

So, why all the talk of the Marshall Islands and reservoirs? A drought of epic proportions.

While the islands depend on rainfall for over 90 percent of their water supply, the area has received a fraction of that—thanks to weather patterns impacted by a particularly strong and long-lasting El Niño. The last drought there happened in 2013, where 5,000 Marshallese endured severe drought conditions and 11,000 more faced food and water shortages.⁴ This time around, there are 21,000 people in the Marshall Islands affected by severe drought conditions.⁵

Water is distributed in the capital, Majuro, three days a week—four hours a day. Twelve hours of water a week.

Photo Credit: Majuro Water and Sewer Company via Huffington Post

The current drought has prompted a disaster declaration from the United States government—under the Compact of Free Association. The Compact, as it is commonly known, outlines the parameters of assistance the United States can provide to the Marshall Islands, which includes assistance for disasters and for defensive mechanisms.

When declarations are made under the Compact, the United States Agency for International Development’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance coordinates the response and recovery. They take the lead in coordinating all things foreign disaster—while we’re the subject matter experts for all things on the domestic disaster side of the house.

Declarations under the Compact are rare—with only three of them⁷ happening since the Compact was amended in April 2003. (The initial agreement was signed in June 1983.)⁸ As an interesting aside, the first of these declarations was for the Marshall Islands drought of 2013.⁷

As of now, the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance is continuing to coordinate funding and the distribution of safe drinking water—one of the biggest issues facing areas in drought conditions. They’re also working to provide resources to the International Organization for Migration so they can help provide logistics support, relief commodities, and water, sanitation, and hygiene assistance to the Marshallese that have been affected by the current drought.⁹

The islands are no stranger to drought. We are no stranger to assistance. It only seems natural that when they go from picturesque to parched, we’re there to give them a hand.

Sources:

1. Merriam-Webster Entry: Reservoir
2. CIA World Factbook Entry: Marshall Islands
3. Forbes Photo Essay Entry: “A Declining Population in a Widespread City"
4. The Diplomat Article: “Drought in the Marshall Islands”
5. International Organization for Migration: El Niño Drought Response Situation Report (as of May 5, 2016)
6. Huffington Post Article: “Perishing of Thirst in a Pacific Paradise”
7. FEMA.gov: Compact of Free Association Declarations
8. State Department Document: Compact of Free Association between the United States of America and the Marshall Islands
9. United States Agency for International Development Office of Federal Disaster Assistance Page: Republic of Marshall Islands Crisis