The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) is warning that children in Kiribati are at risk of bacterial contamination as drought in the Pacific nation worsens.
Rice Chudeau, head of UNICEF Kiribati, told Radio New Zealand (RNZ) that current rainfall levels were at historic lows.
“From the rainfall and well monitoring data, we know that the forecast is more dire for the southern islands of the Gilbert group,” Chudeau said. “Over 94,000 people or almost 80 percent of the country’s total population lives on those islands and therefore at higher risk, within the household.”
He said a 2019 UNICEF survey found 85 percent of tested water sources and 91 percent of household drinking water was contaminated with E. Coli bacteria….