The rationale for delivering rice was that, on average, 85-95 percent of the taro patches in the affected islands were inundated with salt water and the people would require a substitute for the taro to sustain their diets.
Since taro is the primary starch in the diet, rice was deemed a suitable substitute.
Although there is no emergency declaration anymore, the long term effects of the tidal surge are that crops will be lost due to salt damage.
Beginning last week, the MS Voyager and the MV Hapilmohol began delivering rice to the outer islands in Pohnpei, Yap and some of the Mortlock Islands in Chuuk.
This rice is expected to represent a three-month supply for each island.
Recently, the MS Voyager left Weno for the Northwest Islands of Chuuk.
It was scheduled to return to Weno, resupply, and steam through to service the remainders of the islands in the Mortlocks on its way back to Pohnpei.
The Office of Environment and Emergency Management has been responsible for coordinating this second round of humanitarian assistance, and have provided this information to show how much rice is going to each of the affected islands for humanitarian assistance for the next three months.
