Results for Pacific Islands

Measles continues to plague Samoa with 32 deaths now confirmed by the nation’s Government today. Samoa’s Ministry of Health reports the death of two teenagers and 243 measles cases recorded in the last 24 hours.

UNICEF is supporting the Government of Samoa to respond to a measles outbreak in the country. The Government of Samoa officially declared a state of emergency on 15 November 2019, four weeks into the continuing measles outbreak with more than 1000 suspected cases so far. The epidemic has claimed the lives of 14 children under-five years old and one adult. Lesser outbreaks are reported in Tonga and Fiji.

Tonga's first Ambassador to United Arab Emirates, HE 'Akau'ola presented his Credentials at the presidential Qasr Al Watan Palace in Abu Dhabi, on 12 November, 2019.

An acceptance by the Fijian Parliament of an apology by Prime Minister, Hon. Voreqe Bainimarama, for assaulting Hon. Pio Tikoduadua, a member of parliament and the former President of the National Federation Party, remains a controversial political issue in Fiji - because the person who was assaulted got suspended, while the assailant remains in the House.

Commonwealth law ministers have unanimously resolved to remove barriers to access to justice in their respective countries, and to deliver Sustainable Development Goal 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions by 2030.

Researchers in New Zealand who are investigating ways to improve the health of Pacific Islanders are receiving a boost of $2.9 million in the form of “Career Development Awards” offered by New Zealand’s Health Research Council (HRC) – a crown agency of the New Zealand Government.

A multi-million-dollar operation targeting Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing was conducted between October 7-18, 2019 covering 21.3 million square kilometres of the Pacific Islands region. Operation Kurukuru, led by the Pacific Island Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) is one of the largest maritime surveillance operations globally.

On a 12-week expedition to the Pacific Islands, this month NASA has partnered with the Tongan Ministry of the Environment and the Sea Education Association, to do field work on the recently formed volcanic island Hunga Tonga Hunga-Ha'apai.

Tonga is ranked at no. 44 out of 107 countries this year, listed on the Henley Passport Index, which ranks all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. The ranking is based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Asian countries are now world leaders when it comes to both global economic activity and global mobility, with Japan and Singapore holding the top spot ranked at no.1, while the Pacific Islands states are ranked between 39-62.