Source: ChildFund New Zealand
“Unfortunately, we were right. Five months ago, ChildFund New Zealand warned that Pacific families would be hit hardest by the global fuel crisis. The headlines moved on. The crisis didn’t,” says ChildFund New Zealand CEO Josie Pagani.
The United Nations warns that fuel shocks reach Pacific countries later and stay longer. This is expected to keep food, transport and energy costs high for longer than other countries.
The immediate price shock is now a prolonged threat to essential services that children rely on.
“The crisis is not just fuel costs today. It is the long-term impact on these isolated communities when critical supplies are delayed and transport becomes unaffordable.” says Josie Pagani.
“El Niño brings an increased risk of cyclones, and will compound the pressure on water, food production and essential services. Pacific families are being forced to manage several interconnected crises at once-and each one makes the others harder to deal with.”
Kiribati, where ChildFund is the biggest international NGO, is particularly exposed. Remote, reliant on imported fuel, and served by irregular shipping with limited storage.
“When supply is disrupted, it doesn’t take long before families can’t access safe water, food, or transport to healthcare facilities. On the outer islands, there is no backup. In the previous La Nina national emergency 4 years ago, nearly 80% of the country’s population was affected by drought.”
Childfund New Zealand, in partnership with Plan International and with funding from the Australian government, is about to start a project to support 4,000 people across up to 800 Kiribati households to prepare for a potential fuel crisis.
The work will be delivered by ChildFund Kiribati, in South Tarawa and the outer islands of Abaiang, Makin, North and South Tabiteuea, and Nonouti.
ChildFund Kiribati will work closely with the Kiribati government to support those most impacted by the crisis.
The focus is practical; more water capture and storage. Portable desalination units. Local technicians trained to maintain water systems, so a broken part doesn’t stop the water flow. Continued food production using raised beds and container gardens suited to Kiribati’s waterlogged, saline conditions. Direct support for the most vulnerable – young mothers, people with disabilities, and those in remote communities.
“A fuel crisis quickly becomes a food, water and health crisis” Josie Pagani says. “Being prepared means having critical parts already on the island before something breaks. It means local technicians who can fix it. It means food grown locally so a shipping delay doesn’t empty the shelves.”
“The Pacific did not cause this crisis, but families in the Pacific are carrying some of its heaviest consequences. New Zealand must continue to work alongside Pacific governments and communities. Not only to manage the present emergency, but to reduce their exposure to the next one.”
“We cannot stop a war taking place thousands of kilometres away in the Middle East, but we can reduce its power to stop a child in Kiribati getting safe water, nutritious food or being able to get transport to healthcare.”
Notes on ChildFund’s new project in Kiribati:
- The response is expected to run for four months and support approximately 4,000 people across up to 800 households.
- The response will also provide Prepaid vouchers’ for vulnerable households
- Final sites and technical interventions will be confirmed through rapid assessments with the Kiribati Ministry of Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy, Agriculture and Livestock Department Island councils, Water User Groups and participating communities.
- ChildFund Kiribati will lead local delivery and coordination with government agencies, councils and community organisations.
- Reuters reported on 18 August 2026 that oil markets increasingly viewed disruption to Middle East energy supplies as prolonged rather than temporary. https://www.reuters.com/commentary/reuters-open-interest/oil-market-starts-pricing-prolonged-hormuz-crisis-2026-08-18/
- UNDP Pacific reported on 28 July 2026 that fuel and food price shocks reach Pacific economies later and remain elevated after the initial shock has eased elsewhere. https://www.undp.org/pacific/blog/spikes-and-lags-draw-out-energy-shocks-pacific