English: Joint U.S. – NZ mission provides fresh water to Tokelau

October 05, 2011

U.S. Ambassador David Huebner said today the U.S. Government was working jointly with the Government of New Zealand to provide emergency fresh water supplies to Tokelau, which is in danger of running out of water in less than a week.

“The U.S. Coast Guard is working in partnership with the New Zealand Defence Force and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to supply approximately 36,000 gallons of drinking water to Tokelau,” said Ambassador Huebner.”The operation highlights the importance of cooperation between the U.S. Armed Forces and the NZDF in the Pacific.”

The 225ft USCG Cutter Walnut was in American Samoa on a mission that includes maintenance of marine navigation aids when the New Zealand government requested assistance in moving humanitarian supplies to Tokelau. The Walnut will be transporting more than 36,000 gallons of drinking water to the stricken atolls, as well as a NZ-Government team that will be doing a needs-assessment, and working on long-term solutions to the water shortage created by the La Nina ocean current.

“This evening the RNZAF will fly water supplies and personnel to American Samoa, where they will rendezvous with the Walnut for onward transport to Tokelau,” said Huebner. The island nation does not have a useable airfield, making direct air missions impossible, and RNZN ships are currently more than a week away. “Fortunately the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Walnut is in the area, and working with our New Zealand partners we will be able to support the humanitarian needs of the people of Tokelau.”

Tokelau is suffering severe fresh water shortages and the U.S. understood the need to act quickly, said the Ambassador.

“Like New Zealand, the United States is committed to helping our Pacific neighbours when they are in need,” said Ambassador Huebner. “This is a very real humanitarian need here. We are talking about approximately 1,500 people who could be out of fresh water within a week so we really needed to act very quickly.”

newzealand.usembassy.gov/tokelau_water_shortage.html

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