Emergency drinking water has been delivered to Cikobia District School after severe dry weather linked to ongoing El Niño conditions left the island’s main rainwater catchment tanks at critically low levels.
The Fiji Red Cross Society Northern Division team delivered 50 cartons of bottled water to the remote school, providing immediate drinking water for 25 students and four teachers.
The team travelled by boat with Provincial Administrator Macuata and his team on Thursday and reached Cikobia Island on Friday.
The assistance follows an urgent request from the school’s head as the water shortage threatened the health, hygiene and daily operations of the school.
The Fiji Red Cross says the water supply is expected to provide a 24-day buffer while government water cartage operations are arranged to reach the island.
Cikobia District School serves children from four surrounding villages — Vatulele, Nautovatu, Vuninuku and Nalele.
The Fiji Red Cross says the emergency assistance will help ensure students and teachers have access to safe drinking water while the island continues to experience dry conditions.
