The Tropical Depression last week has done little to ease the plight of people living in drought stricken areas.

The National Disaster Management Office says that based on reports received by the Fiji Meteorology Service, the country will continue to experience below average rainfall throughout the year.

Director NDMO Akapusi Tuifagalele says the North and Western division remain affected.

He adds the office continues to receive inundated requests for emergency water from the affected areas.

“We’ve had requests from the Navesau Adventist school in the Wainibuka area requesting water and we’ve sent them some relief water to sustain the school and there will be more to come until the next few days.”

Tuifagalele says water carting continues in rural and remote communities where wells, rivers and bore-holes are drying up.

Authorities continue to call for people to use water sparingly.