The structure at the main entrance to the parliament building was still standing but the building and its contents were decimated. Photo: Giff Johnson. Photo: Giff Johnson
The US Department of State has announced US$13 million in funding to support the rebuilding of the Marshall Islands' parliament building, the Nitijela.
Fire engulfed the Marshall Islands Nitijela just after midnight on 25 August.
The fire destroyed the parliament chamber, its archives and library section, offices and meeting rooms.
Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine said later that week Cabinet had endorsed a plan to fast-track building a new parliament complex, and construction would begin before the end of the year.
US Congresswoman Amata Coleman Radewagen of American Samoa said in the aftermath she would look at options for United States support for a new parliament.
In a statement, the Department of State said the funding comes in conjunction with support from Taiwan.
"This investment reflects the US commitment to helping RMI rebound from this tragedy," the statement said.
The government of Taiwan had previously pledged over US$30m.
The US is also planning to provide a state-of-the-art firetruck, "recognising the critical need for life-saving infrastructure and in the wake of the Nitijela tragedy".
Following the fire, RNZ Pacific's correspondent in Majuro Giff Johnson said the country did not have much capacity in firefighting and fire inspection processes.
"The fire department here is pretty nonexistent, except for an airport fire fighting team, which was called in, but they weren't able to get there for over an hour."
The US Department of Agriculture will also fund repairs to existing equipment and purchase safety gear for first responders.
The US statement also said the two countries are finalizing an enhanced shiprider agreement, which will bolster efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, secure the RMI's exclusive economic zone and protect its borders.
The state department is also giving US$8.3m, in coordination with Taiwan and the Marshall Islands, to help replace Air Marshall Islands' aging fleet.
