An $86-million emergency allocation, expanded water trucking, the distribution of water storage tanks, and plans to construct additional loading bays to improve water delivery are among measures the Government has planned as the country grapples with prolonged dry conditions that are expected to worsen. If there is no relief in sight over the next three months, it is estimated that the national drought response could climb to approximately $500 million.

Speaking during a media briefing, Thursday, Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change Matthew Samuda said the focus will be on reducing the impact on vulnerable communities.

“The trucking would have been split proportionally based on the data that we had related to rainfall in June, so that the areas experiencing the worst conditions would receive the greatest support,” he explained.