Pacific Islands Face Water Scarcity in El Niño Drought
Governments in Tonga and Fiji are shipping water to affected islands as a strong El Niño drought deepens across the Pacific.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Current Conditions
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Pacific communities are facing water scarcity during a strong El Niño drought, with impacts varying between and within countries. Tonga's government is carting and shipping water from Tongatapu to Ha'apai and other affected islands, while Fiji's governments are transporting water to maritime communities in need.
Why it matters
Drought leaves many Pacific communities less able to collect rainwater, pushing residents to rely more heavily on groundwater. The El Niño is forecast to strengthen over the coming months, and freshwater resources are expected to be in increasingly short supply.
Rainfall impacts are split across the region: the Southern Cook Islands are more vulnerable to water scarcity, while the Northern Cook Islands are experiencing heightened rainfall, and generally dry conditions prevail throughout Melanesia. Exact volumes of water being shipped and the number of affected residents were not reported.
The players
Government of Tonga
Tonga's national government is carting and shipping water from Tongatapu to Ha'apai and other affected islands in response to the drought.
Governments of Fiji
Fiji's governments are transporting water to maritime communities in need during the El Niño drought.
The details
Communities across the Pacific rely on shallow aquifers that sit on top of salt water beneath the sand, and many households travel to boreholes, wells, or community storage with buckets to collect water. Country counterparts are also messaging communities about waterborne disease risk during drought, and some communities are installing shallow galleries on small islands to harvest groundwater.
Timeline
Over the coming months, the El Niño is forecast to strengthen and freshwater supply is expected to shrink.
In the coming years, climate change is expected to increase competition for water resources.
Seasonal Patterns
The current El Niño drought follows the recurring Pacific pattern in which the phenomenon suppresses rainfall in parts of Melanesia while leaving other islands wetter, and the expected strengthening over coming months would extend that pattern. Climate change is projected to intensify competition for freshwater in the coming years, adding pressure beyond the seasonal cycle.
Residents in affected Pacific islands should follow local government guidance on water distribution and collection points. Health authorities are advising communities to take precautions against waterborne disease while water supplies are limited.
The takeaway
Drought can quickly shift how communities get water, from rainwater collection to groundwater harvesting and government shipments. Staying informed about local water guidance and disease precautions matters most while supplies are tight.
Further reading
For ongoing updates on drought conditions, see Current Conditions coverage across the Pacific.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NZ Herald.
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