TOKYO — Leaders of Pacific island nations heaped praise on Japan’s aid program and asked for more as the fifth Pacific Area Leaders Meeting geared for its official opening tonight.
Increasingly extreme droughts and sea water inundation on low islands are causing hardships for islanders across the region, leaders said at a water and sanitation roundtable involving Thursday chaired by former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori.
Each of the eight heads of state said delivering safe fresh water was an increasing problem for their resource-poor governments, and called on Japan to continue to play a lead role in funding programs to stabilize sanitation systems and fresh water capacity in the islands.
Kiribati President Anote Tong said a 16-month drought in Kiribati has forced his government to deliver drinking water by ship to remote islands that depend on rain for fresh water.
Federated States of Micronesia President Emanuel Mori said “meager resources and vulnerability to climate change and natural disasters” complicates the ability of his government to provide adequate fresh water to the dispersed population.
The Marshall Islands ability to provided drinking water and adequate sanitation is “constrained by lack of money, skills and transfer of technology,” Marshall Islands President Litokwa Tomeing said. A new study of Majuro, the capital, showed that 30 percent of the estimated 30,000 people in the urban center have no direct access to fresh water or sanitation facilities.
Tomeing and the other leaders recognized Japan for its lead role in funding improvements in the islands.
A key issue in most islands is developing adequate reservoir space.
“The Japanese government is the largest donor in the water and sanitation area and I hope this continues,” said former Japanese PM Mori.
The water talks Wednesday were a kick-off for the official opening of the fifth PALM summit that is being held in Hokkaido from Friday to Sunday.
The summit is focusing on Japan and the islands’ response to climate change, and increasing partnerships among donor groups supporting aid projects in the island region.
