{{Short description|Natural disaster in Tuvalu}} thumb|250px|right|Map of Tuvalu The '''2011 Tuvalu drought''' was a period of severe drought afflicting Tuvalu, a South Pacific island country of approximately 10,500 people, in the latter half of 2011.<ref name=telegraph>{{cite news|title=Tuvalu: state of emergency declared over water shortages |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/tuvalu/8803267/Tuvalu-state-of-emergency-declared-over-water-shortages.html |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=2011-10-03|accessdate=2011-10-02}}</ref><ref name=telegraph2>{{cite news|first=Matthew |last=Benns|title=Tuvalu 'to run out of water by Tuesday' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/tuvalu/8804093/Tuvalu-to-run-out-of-water-by-Tuesday.html|work=The Daily Telegraph |date=2011-10-03|accessdate=2011-10-03}}</ref> A state of emergency was declared on September 28, 2011;<ref name=fijitimes>{{cite news|first=Timoci|last=Vula|title=Serious' on Tuvalu|url=http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=182536|work=Fiji Times|date=2011-10-06|accessdate=2011-10-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730133438/http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=182536|archive-date=2012-07-30|url-status=dead}}</ref> with rationing of available fresh-water.<ref>{{cite web| first=Steve|last= Boland|url= http://www.tuvaluislands.com/news/archives/2011/2011-10-13.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111018110730/http://www.tuvaluislands.com/news/archives/2011/2011-10-13.html|url-status= usurped|archive-date= October 18, 2011|title=Tuvalu Water Crisis: Photos from Funafuti | date =13 October 2011|accessdate= 14 Oct 2011}}</ref> The La Niña event that caused the drought ended in April–May 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.niwa.co.nz/climate/icu/island-climate-update-140-may-2012|title=Island Climate Update 140 - May 2012|date =15 May 2012|publisher=NIWA, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research of New Zealand|accessdate= 15 August 2012}}</ref> By August 2012 the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Conditions indicated that the tropical Pacific Ocean was on the brink of an El Niño event.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.niwa.co.nz/climate/icu/island-climate-update-143-august-2012|title=Island Climate Update 143 - August 2012|date =3 August 2012|publisher=NIWA, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research of New Zealand|accessdate= 15 August 2012}}</ref>

==Background== Tuvalu experiences the effects of El Niño & La Niña that flow from changes in ocean temperatures in equatorial and central Pacific. El Niño effects increase the chances of tropical cyclones; while La Niña effects increase the chances of drought conditions in Tuvalu.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/pi-cpp/training/nms/ENSO.ppt|title=El Niño and La Niña|publisher=Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology|accessdate=9 Oct 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111214072951/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/pi-cpp/training/nms/ENSO.ppt|archive-date=2011-12-14|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Tuvalu relies primarily on rainfall for the majority of its drinking water, which is collected and stored in storage tanks.<ref name=telegraph/><ref>P A Kingston, 2004. [http://www.wpro.who.int/NR/rdonlyres/C46440CE-2030-47F5-A1BC-14BFA54354FE/0/Tuvalu.pdf Surveillance of Drinking Water Quality in the Pacific Islands: Situation Analysis And Needs Assessment, Country Reports] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111155715/http://www.wpro.who.int/NR/rdonlyres/C46440CE-2030-47F5-A1BC-14BFA54354FE/0/Tuvalu.pdf |date=January 11, 2012 }}. WHO, Retrieved 25 Mar. 2010</ref> The country normally receives between 200&ndash;400&nbsp;mm (7.87&ndash;15.75&nbsp;in) of rain per month during an average year.<ref name=telegraph2/>

==La Niña effect and drought== [[Image:Tuvalu Meteorology Service.jpg|thumb|right|250px| Tuvalu Meteorological Service, Fongafale, Funafuti atoll]] The country had been hit by a prolonged period of dry weather in the second half 2011, which had been attributed to the La Niña that results in the cooling of the surface temperature of the sea around Tuvalu which resulted in reduced rainfall.<ref name=telegraph/><ref name=rnz/> In October 2011, the Tuvalu Red Cross reported that the country had not received normal rainfall in six months, leading to shortages.<ref name=telegraph2/> The capital, Funafuti, and several of the outer atolls had been particularly affected by the drought.<ref name=telegraph2/> Nukulaelae and Nanumaga were the most seriously affected outer islands.<ref name="fijitimes"/> The dry conditions on Nukulaelae affected the vast majority of pulaka pits - Pulaka, or swamp taro, is a staple crop for Tuvaluans.<ref name="SPC2011">{{cite web|url= http://reliefweb.int/report/tuvalu/tuvalu%E2%80%99s-crippling-drought-offers-important-lessons-pacific|title= Tuvalu's crippling drought offers important lessons to the Pacific |work= Secretariat of the Pacific Community|date= 6 October 2011|accessdate=24 April 2015}}</ref> On Vaitupu the drought was also severe, but not as bad as the other islands.<ref name="TP">{{cite web|last=Panapa |first=Tufoua |title=Ethnographic Research on Meanings and Practices of Health in Tuvalu: A Community Report |publisher=Report to the Tuvaluan Ministries of Health and Education: Ph D Candidate Centre for Development Studies - "Transnational Pacific Health through the Lens of Tuberculosis" Research Group. Department of Anthropology, The University of Auckland, N.Z. |year=2012 |url=http://www.arts.auckland.ac.nz/webdav/site/arts/shared/Departments/anthropology/documents-publications/Tufoua%20Ethnographic%20Research%20on%20Meanings%20and%20Practices%20of%20Health%20in%20Tuvalu%20final.pdf |accessdate=16 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003154454/http://www.arts.auckland.ac.nz/webdav/site/arts/shared/Departments/anthropology/documents-publications/Tufoua%20Ethnographic%20Research%20on%20Meanings%20and%20Practices%20of%20Health%20in%20Tuvalu%20final.pdf |archive-date=3 October 2013 }}</ref>

==Declaration of a state of emergency== The government declared a state of emergency on September 28, 2011,<ref name=fijitimes/> due to severe water shortages in the capital atoll, Funafuti.<ref name=telegraph/> The drought conditions resulted in water being rationed on the islands of Funafuti and Nukulaelae as water reserves ran low.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=63524|title= Drinking water rationed in Tuvalu| date =4 October 2011|publisher=Radio New Zealand |accessdate= 14 Oct 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/world/87840/water-rationing-continues-in-tuvalu|title= Water rationing continues in Tuvalu| date =10 October 2011|publisher=Radio New Zealand |accessdate= 14 Oct 2011}}</ref><ref name="Macrae">{{cite web|first= Alistair|last= Macrae|url= http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/3497128.html|title= Tuvalu in a fight for its life|date= 11 October 2011|publisher= The Drum – Australian Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate= 12 Oct 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111013020711/http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/3497128.html|archive-date= 13 October 2011|url-status= dead|df= dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=63524 |title=Drinking water rationed in Tuvalu |date=4 October 2011 |work=Radio New Zealand |access-date=14 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/world/87840/water-rationing-continues-in-tuvalu |title=Water rationing continues in Tuvalu |date=10 October 2011 |work=Radio New Zealand |access-date=14 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Steve |last=Boland |url=http://www.tuvaluislands.com/news/archives/2011/2011-10-13.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018110730/http://www.tuvaluislands.com/news/archives/2011/2011-10-13.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=October 18, 2011 |title=Tuvalu Water Crisis: Photos from Funafuti |date=13 October 2011 |access-date=14 October 2011}}</ref> Households on Funafuti and Nukulaelae were restricted to two buckets of fresh water per day (40 litres).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ifrc.org/docs/appeals/rpts11/IBTV14101102.pdf |title=Information Bulletin – Tuvalu Drought |date=14 October 2011 |work=International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Organisations |access-date=7 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Toby |last=Manhire |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/oct/17/tuvalu-drought-climate-change |title=Tuvalu drought could be dry run for dealing with climate change |date=17 October 2011 |work=The Guardian |access-date=21 October 2011 |location=London}}</ref>

Households on Funafuti and Nukulaelae were rationed to two buckets of fresh-water a day (40 litres).<ref name="TP"/><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.ifrc.org/docs/appeals/rpts11/IBTV14101102.pdf |title= Information Bulletin - Tuvalu Drought | date =14 October 2011|publisher=International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Organisations |accessdate= 7 Nov 2011}}</ref><ref name=Guardian>{{cite web| first= Toby|last= Manhire|url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/oct/17/tuvalu-drought-climate-change|title=Tuvalu drought could be dry run for dealing with climate change | date =17 October 2011|work=The Guardian |accessdate= 21 Oct 2011}}</ref> A resident of Funafuti (in a household of 5 people) is quoted as saying that it is "hard, very hard" for her household to get by on the ration of two buckets of water a day.<ref name=Guardian/> Meanwhile, other Tuvaluans were being forced to pay for imported foods as the consequence of failing crops as the result of the drought.<ref name=Guardian/> Princess Margaret Hospital limited admissions to try and cope with the water rationing, with a fear that there may be a rise in waterborne diseases due to a lack of public bathing.<ref name=Guardian/>

The secretary general of Tuvalu Red Cross, Tataua Pefe, said that lack of rain had caused the contamination of remaining ground water supplies, "It's not safe for consumption...Some animals have died recently and we think it's because of subterranean water."<ref name=telegraph2/>

Lack of rainfall had affected other countries and territories in the region, including American Samoa, Samoa, Tokelau and Tonga.<ref name=rnz/><ref name=rnzi>{{cite news|title=Forecaster sees little relief for drought hit areas in Pacific |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=63478 |work=Radio New Zealand International |date=2011-10-02|accessdate=2011-10-03}}</ref>

==International aid== [[File:A public water collection point set up in response to the drought, Tuvalu, 2011. Photo- DFAT (12779967324).jpg|thumb|right|200px|A public water collection point set up on Funafuti in response to the drought, Tuvalu, 2011 (Credit: DFAT)]] New Zealand began airlifting supplies and fresh water to Tuvalu on Monday, October 3, 2011.<ref name=telegraph/> The New Zealand government had received reports during the prior weekend that parts of Tuvalu had just a two-day supply of water left, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully.<ref name=rnz/> A New Zealand Air Force C-130 Hercules transport plane landed in the country carrying two desalination units and large containers of fresh water into Funafuti.<ref name=telegraph/><ref name=rnz>{{cite news|title=Tuvalu: state of emergency declared over water shortages |url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/87248/rnzaf-delivers-water-to-tuvalu |work=Radio New Zealand |date=2011-10-03|accessdate=2011-10-03}}</ref> Australia also sent a desalination plant.<ref name="TP"/>

Officials from various aid agencies, including the International Red Cross and the Tuvalu Red Cross, worked with the New Zealand and Tuvaluan governments to alleviate the drought and shortages.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/tuvalu/8804093/Tuvalu-to-run-out-of-water-by-Tuesday.html| location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph| first1=Matthew| last1=Benns| title=Tuvalu 'to run out of water by Tuesday'| date=3 Oct 2011}}</ref>

The government of South Korea funded the shipment of 60,000 bottles of water from Fiji to Tuvalu.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=184465| location=Suva| work=The Fijian Times| first1=Ioane| last1=Burese| title=Korea joins Tuvalu aid| date=29 Oct 2011| access-date=3 December 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515100637/http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=184465| archive-date=15 May 2013| url-status=dead}}</ref> The governments of Australia and New Zealand responded to the fresh-water crisis by supplying temporary desalination plants,<ref name="Macrae"/><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=63673|title=Critical water shortage in Tuvalu eases, but more rationing needed| date =11 October 2011|publisher=Radio New Zealand |accessdate= 14 Oct 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last= APNZ, AP|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10756294|title=NZ helps Tuvalu with fresh water emergency| date =3 October 2011|publisher=New Zealand Herald |accessdate=13 Oct 2011}}</ref> and assisting in the repair of the existing desalination unit that was donated by Japan in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|title = Japan Provides Desalination Plant to relieve Tuvalu's water problems |date =2 June 2006|url= http://www.fj.emb-japan.go.jp/pr_Japan_Provides_Desalination_Plant_to_relieve_Tuvalus_water_problems.html |publisher = Embassy of Japan in the Republic of the Fiji Islands |accessdate=1 Dec 2011}}</ref>

In response to the 2011 drought, Japan funded the purchase of a 100 m<sup>3</sup>/d desalination plant and two portable 10 m<sup>3</sup>/d plants as part of its Pacific Environment Community (PEC) program.<ref>{{cite web|title = Japan-New Zealand Aid Cooperation in response to severe water shortage in Tuvalu |date =4 November 2011|url= http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2011/11/1104_01.html |publisher = Department of Foreign Affairs of Japan |accessdate=1 Dec 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title = Japanese fund three desalination plants for Tuvalu |date = 17 Oct 2011 |url = http://www.desalination.biz/news/news_story.asp?id=6170&title=Japanese+fund+three+desalination+plants+for+Tuvalu |publisher = The International Desalination & Water Reuse Quarterly industry website |accessdate = 1 Dec 2011 |archive-date = 7 May 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120507101412/http://www.desalination.biz/news/news_story.asp?id=6170&title=Japanese+fund+three+desalination+plants+for+Tuvalu |url-status = dead }}</ref> Tuvalu had previously purchased a desalination plant from Japan during the 1999 drought.<ref name=ABS21>{{cite web|last=Emily McKenzie, Biman Prasad & Atu Kaloumaira |title= The economic impact of natural disasters on development in the Pacific|work=AusAID, USP & SOPAC|date= May 2005 |url= https://www.researchgate.net/publication/269408914|access-date=16 March 2024}}</ref>

Aid programmes of the European Union in 2010 and 2011;<ref name=10EDF>{{cite web|url= http://www.delfji.ec.europa.eu/en/achievements/tuvalu.htm|title= Tuvalu - 10th European Development Fund|publisher= Delegation of the European Union|accessdate= 24 Oct 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111008065407/http://www.delfji.ec.europa.eu/en/achievements/tuvalu.htm|archive-date= 8 October 2011|url-status= dead}}</ref><ref name=TWWSP>{{cite web|url= http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/documents/aap/2009/af_aap_2009_tuv.pdf |title= Tuvalu / Water, Waste and Sanitation Project (TWWSP): CRIS FED/2009/021-195, ANNEX |publisher=European Union|accessdate= 24 Oct 2011}}</ref> and Australia also provided water storage tanks to increase storage capacity in the outer islands as part of a longer term solution for the storage of available fresh water.<ref name=RM>{{cite web|last=Richard Marle, Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs (Australia) |url=http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/climate-change-poses-a-pacific-problem/ |title=Climate change poses a Pacific problem |date=12 October 2011 |publisher=The Punch - News Limited |accessdate=12 Oct 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013041007/http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/climate-change-poses-a-pacific-problem/ |archive-date=13 October 2011 }}</ref> Australia has also funded the installation of water tanks on Funafuti, which project also involved improving roof and gutter systems of households to capture more fresh water.<ref name=Ausaid>{{cite web|title=Recent achievements of the aid program in Tuvalu |url=http://www.ausaid.gov.au/country/country.cfm?CountryId=22 |publisher=AusAID |accessdate=12 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320052433/http://www.ausaid.gov.au/country/country.cfm?CountryId=22 |archive-date=20 March 2012 }}</ref> In July 2012 a United Nations Special Rapporteur called on the Tuvalu Government to develop a national water strategy to improve access to safe drinking water and sanitation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2012/07/un-human-right-to-safe-drinking-water-mission-to-tuvalu/|title= Mission to Tuvalu - Press Statement United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation|date =19 July 2012|publisher= Ms. Catarina de Albuquerque, United Nations Special Rapporteur |accessdate= 15 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-07-20/an-tuvalu-water-and-sanitation/4143036|title=Tuvalu urged to develop national water strategy|date =19 July 2012|publisher=Australian Network News|accessdate= 15 August 2012}}</ref>

==See also== * Climate change in Tuvalu

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== *[http://informet.net/tuvmet/ Tuvalu Meteorological Service] *[http://www.met.gov.fj/ Fiji Meteorological Service] *[http://www.bom.gov.au/pacificsealevel/project_info.shtml South Pacific Sea Level and Climate Monitoring Project (SPSLCMP)] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20120925112826/http://www.niwa.co.nz/climate/icu Island Climate Update, (NIWA) National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research of New Zealand]

{{Tuvalu topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2011 Tuvalu drought}} Category:Environment of Tuvalu Drought Category:Weather events in Tuvalu Tuvalu drought Tuvalu drought Tuvalu