The island of Komodo, located in Indonesia, is facing its worst drought in 30 years. As the mercury rises, the residents of the tiny island are at risk of not having any drinking water in the near future. With little rainfall to replenish the waters sources, the islanders are facing a dangerous lack of water that threatens their lives and livelihoods.
The prospects are dire, as the World Health Organization has declared that Komodo is running out of drinkable water for the first time since 1991. In the months ahead, the islanders will be forced to ration and even hunt for drinking water sources outside Komodo.
Komodo is home to a variety of exotic animals and plants, but its human population is limited to 2,800. Much of the small island’s drinking water comes from the rivers, streams and creeks that run through its land. With the current drought, all of these sources are drying up, making residents rely heavily on rainwater buckets and other reserves for drinking water.
Although Indonesia is the biggest archipelago in the world and home to 17,000 islands that are prone to drought, the residents of Komodo desperately need help to prevent the complete loss of their drinking water source.
The local government has appealed to the country’s National Disaster Management Agency to provide aid and assistance. The government has also called on its citizens to conserve and protect the remaining water sources, as well as to adhere to strict water usage regulations.
In the hopes of further minimizing water loss, the municipality has also started the construction of wells in low-lying areas, as well as deep-water tanks and other wells for storage. The people of Komodo are ready to do their part to ensure the safe preservation of their limited supplies of drinking water.
The residents of Komodo are in dire need of assistance during this difficult time. The people of the world have the resources and capacity to help, and it is our duty to do what we can to ensure that the people of Komodo have the basic human right of access to clean drinking water. Let us do our part by providing the resources, aid and support that these people require.