2011 Tuvalu drought

[6] Tuvalu experiences the effects of El Niño & La Niña that flow from changes in ocean temperatures in equatorial and central Pacific.

[7] Tuvalu relies primarily on rainfall for the majority of its drinking water, which is collected and stored in storage tanks.

[1][9] In October 2011, the Tuvalu Red Cross reported that the country had not received normal rainfall in six months, leading to shortages.

[11] The government declared a state of emergency on September 28, 2011,[3] due to severe water shortages in the capital atoll, Funafuti.

[21] Princess Margaret Hospital limited admissions to try and cope with the water rationing, with a fear that there may be a rise in waterborne diseases due to a lack of public bathing.

[1] The New Zealand government had received reports during the prior weekend that parts of Tuvalu had just a two-day supply of water left, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully.

[9] A New Zealand Air Force C-130 Hercules transport plane landed in the country carrying two desalination units and large containers of fresh water into Funafuti.