Nation's water supply may soon run dry

Drought-stricken Palau could dry up completely this month, officials warned on Monday as the Pacific island appealed for urgent aid from Japan and Taiwan, including shipments of water.

The tiny country of about 18,000 people declared a state of emergency last month, the latest Pacific island nation to do so as one of the worst ever El Nino-induced droughts in the region worsens.

"We're still in the state of emergency, there's a sense of urgency to address the crisis," said a government spokesman as the National Emergency Committee met to discuss strategy.