Tuvalu declares water emergency

The tiny Pacific island nation of Tuvalu has declared a state of emergency because of a severe shortage of fresh water.

New Zealand’s foreign minister Murray McCully said water was scarce in the capital Funafuti, as well as in a number of outlying islands.

He said New Zealand’s defence services were flying to Tuvalu armed with supplies including two desalination units. The New Zealand Red Cross is also contributing supplies and help.

Fewer than 11,000 people live on Tuvalu’s series of low-lying coral atolls.