Vanuatu’s food security under pressure as heat, drought and floods damage key growing areas
EXTREME heat, drought, cyclones, flooding, sea-level rise and coastal inundation are damaging crops and arable land in Eratap and Teouma, the main suppliers of fresh market produce to Vanuatu’s capital, threatening
PACNEWS TWO 20 AUGUST 2026
In this bulletin: 1. TONGA — Tonga drought declarations expand as El Niño brings very dry outlook2. PNG — On another scale’: PNG province unprepared for El Niño impacts, governor warns3. NAOERO
Tonga expects the worst as El Niño underway
TONGANS have been warned of possible significant water shortages, skin diseases, dry soil, and disruptions to household income and livelihoods as the kingdom faces a prolonged El
Tonga receives second climate insurance payout for drought preparedness
TONGA has received a second parametric insurance payout of TOP114,168 from the Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Company (PCRIC) to support early drought preparedness efforts in the Niua Islands.
Warning! Solomons braces for water shortages, rationing
SOLOMON Water has urged customers in four towns to conserve water after the onset of El Nino which can raise the risk of prolonged
Vanuatu on El Niño watch
VANUATU has declared an El Nino watch, as it mobilizes the nation to prepare for potential dry conditions, rising sea temperatures, and reduced rainfall.
Opinion: The big dry: Marshallese scramble for water sources
For over 50 days from the end of February to the second week of April, El Niño took its toll on Majuro, the capital of the Marshall Islands. During that period, only trace rainfall was recorded. A large number of the
Micronesia: Prolonged drought now impacting food and water across region
Extreme droughts in the Western Pacific region are expected to persist over the next three months. Parts of the Marshall Islands, Guam, Palau, Mariana Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) are now
No rain for three months in some of the Marshall Islands
A humanitarian operation supported by the IFRC’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund was getting underway late last week in the Marshall Islands, some of whose atolls and islands are said to have had no rain this year.
Micronesia drought leaves thousands desperate for food – UNICEF
Thousands of people are being impacted by drought in the Federated States of Micronesia. The four states – Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae – have all been experiencing drier than normal weather since
What the Boy Child Brings Us – El Niño and Implications for the Pacific this Season
Pacific Island Countries are known to host some of the most memorable soirees during the festive season, but are also the most vulnerable to extreme climatic events during the same. El Niño (pronounced ‘el
Drought declared for Tonga’s main island
A drought has been declared for Tonga’s main island Tongatapu as well as the nearby island of ‘Eua, and put out warnings and alerts for other islands. The climate pattern El Niño was officially declared in
Drought warning in PNG
A severe drought similar to the 1997 drought is projected to worsen the situation in Papua New Guinea. Provinces currently under high risk drought watch include; Southern Highlands, Hela, Chimbu and lately some parts of
Drought crisis to continue in Kiribati
Kiribati’s Minister for Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy (MISE) has said the current drought crisis affecting Kiribati is projected to continue in the coming months posing risks to health, sanitation and
Tuvalu’s drought crisis
Tuvalu declared a State of Public Emergency Tuesday for the prolonged drought throughout the islands. The Government is mobilising efforts to respond to both the drought and the COVID-19 outbreak. “Testing times
Kiribati drought at critical stage says UNICEF
Fears of malnutrition and other illnesses are mounting in Kiribati as the country grapples with an ongoing drought. The Kiribati government in June declared a state of disaster after the discovery of high salinity
Insuring against disasters
As November nears, the thoughts of many Pacific islanders turn to preparations for the South Pacific cyclone season. Are there matches and candles, batteries and bottled water in the house? Are the hurricane shutters in
Water woes
By Samantha Magick Earlier this month the world learnt of the plight of Banabans, who had been living without fresh water for a year according to residents. A social media post from an overseas-based Banaban gave a
