Approximately 1,500 residents of three islands will receive approximately 36,000 gallons of drinking water from the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Walnut.
Currently the residents of Tokelau have approximately seven days of fresh drinking water.
“Like New Zealand, the United States is committed to helping our Pacific neighbors when they are in need,” said U.S. Ambassador David Huebner.
“This is a very real humanitarian need here. We are talking about approximately 1,500 people who could be out of fresh water within a week so we really needed to act very quickly.”
“A Hercules C-130 aircraft from Ohakea, New Zealand will transport several water containers and a seven-person needs assessment team to American Samoa and rendezvous with the Walnut,” said Capt. Eric Brown, response chief for the Fourteenth Coast Guard District. “The Coast Guard is in a unique position to assist New Zealand with this humanitarian mission because we have a capable asset that is available to respond.”
