Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu Tuvalu Christian Church

EKALESIA KELISIANO TUVALU – TUVALU CHRISTIAN CHURCH ACTIVITY PLAN FOR WATER CRISIS OCTOBER 2011

Introduction

Tuvalu is a small independent island nation located in the central Pacific. It comprises of 9 small low lying coral atolls with a land area of 24 square kilometers with the highest point of 4 meters above sea level. Tuvalu is known to the world because of climate change related sea level rise. We as Tuvaluans continue to raise our voice in the international arena for the international community to consider our livelihood. As for the drought, we notice that this is a result of climate change in which Tuvalu contributed almost next to nothing to the problem of climate change. However, we are the first to feel the adverse impact of climate change.

On the 28th of September, the government of Tuvalu has declared public state of emergency for Tuvalu due to water shortage. The water crisis in Tuvalu affected all walks of life. Realistically, it added extra burden to the many problems that Tuvaluans already faced and continue to face the adverse impact of the raising sea level due to climate change. The issue of water scarcity has basically disturbed our lives. Generally speaking, people living in Tuvalu under such condition continued to struggle to cope in this very difficult situation. The Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu—EKT (Tuvalu Christian Church), which is the state church that holds 96% of the population, cannot stand on the sideline and watch the people suffer out of this natural event. Therefore, EKT worked hard to incorporate every single effort from overseas church partners and NGO’s to assist the people of Tuvalu in this threading scenario. EKT also foster the spirit of ecumenism, for that reason, this activity plan does not confine to EKT church members, it includes the whole population. This activity plan is an operational plan for the EKT to facilitates the people of Tuvalu during this long drought by seeking overseas financial help in implementing of these priorities.

Problem and Context The drought have exceeded for more than five months (May-October). However, Tuvaluans rely on rainwater for survival. Well water is another alternative but due to the increase of water salinity makes it unfit for human consumption. Desalination plant became a supplementary. However, the desalination plant cannot meet the demand for water by the community.

Moreover, we share our water with our animals and plants, so humans are not alone in their struggle. Due to this long and Breadfruit Trees are dying out extensive drought, our food security has been destroyed by the increase of heat and water shortage. Our pulaka, taro, breadfruit, banana and coconuts, which serve as the backbone for the country, have been vanished. In social terms, our dependency on the market has boosted. Therefore, those without any income or low-income earners suffered the most as they are trying to cope with swift socio- economic shift in life.

Despite the assistance given by Australia and New Zealand Government in providing technical people and portable desalination plants, each household are given two buckets of water a day unless there is a Well water baby in the family, than buckets of water increases to four per day. Tuvaluans now are using well water for bathing, domestic use and livestock. The chance of getting water borne diseases is very high in the country.