TARAWA, Kiribati (March 7, 1999 – Radio Australia)---Kiribati is appealing for international help as a critical drought situation in the Micronesian nation gets worse.

Radio Australia correspondent Sean Dorney reports that the President of Kiribati, Teburoro Tito , said the country desperately needs desalination plants and water trucks to help resolve the crisis.

"Kiribati is a mostly coral atoll island nation whose 81,000 thousand people generally depend on rain to meet their water needs.

"Strict rationing of water is in force in the main population center, South Tarawa.

"President Tito has declared a State of Emergency, saying ‘The situation is getting worse from day to day. We haven't had rain. . . no substantial rain for more than eight months now’"

Last week, President Tito declared a national state of emergency.