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By Rolynda Jonathan
The United Nations has awarded a $1 million dollar grant to assist the Marshall Islands in responding to the drought disaster that the island nation has been battling for a year.
The rapid response grant approved by the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos will help the RMI government in implementing its $4.7 million dollar immediate and near-term Drought Response Plan.
The plan calls for a large-scale deployment of immediate relief supplies such as water and food to meet minimum humanitarian standards.
Activities outlined under the plan will also include increasing rainwater catchment capacity, treat deployment of water making units, buy more about replanting crops as well as improve health surveillance and outreach.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) will manage the grant, rx which is to be implemented within six months in accordance with the Response Plan.
More than 6,000 people in the northern islands have no access to safe drinking water and food security is a challenge, as local crops are dying off.
The RMI President elevated the drought emergency to a drought disaster in May when conditions worsened.
