In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Kiribati pushes for real climate action, targets COP31
2. PACIFIC — Pacific Church Leaders’ Meeting opens in Fiji with focus on “life, identity, and spirituality”
3. SOL — $2.5M allocated for Western for relief distribution
4. PACIFIC — Pacific leaders warn of disaster response gaps
5. AUST — Australian Pacific cyclone aid welcomed, ‘more needed’
6. PACIFIC — Pacific Voices, global Impact: WCC general secretary advances climate justice, regional partnership agendas
7.FIJI — Fiji Police target alleged Australian drug kingpin
8. AUST — New Australian army chief makes history as first woman in role
9. FIJI — ‘Fijian’ should remain a shared identity: Kotobalavu
10. PACNEWS BIZ — ‘Clock is ticking’: Hormuz disruption raises fears of global food crisis
11. PACNEWS BIZ — NZ defends cautious response as fuel prices, Pacific pressure grow
12. PACNEWS BIZ — Finance Minister says Fiji maintains economic resilience amid global uncertainty
13. PACNEWS BIZ — Joint ownership model elevates Yasawa Islands Tourism
14. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Solomons vanishing Islands: Walande and Fanalei on the frontlines of Climate Change
15. PACNEWS DIGEST — Are we heading for ‘super El Niño’ – and what could we expect?
PAC – CLIMATE CHANGE: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Tue 14 Apr 2026
Kiribati pushes for real climate action, targets COP31
By Pita Ligaiula
TARAWA, 14 APRIL 2026 (PACNEWS)— Kiribati Women Minister Ruth Cross Kwansing says Pacific leaders are shifting from talk to action as the region prepares for the next global climate talks, warning the focus must be on real solutions for frontline communities.
Speaking after the Meeting of the Pacific Political Climate Champions, Kwansing said the region is aligning its strategy ahead of COP31.
“An important moment for our region as we transition from the lessons of COP30 in Brazil to the urgent preparations for COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye,” She said in a social media post.
She said her role as Political Champion for Gender Equality and Social Inclusion is driving a stronger regional push.
“As the Political Champion for Gender Equality and Social Inclusion, this session was so helpful!”
Kwansing said leaders are working to sharpen the Pacific’s influence.
“We consolidated our regional leadership to ensure that the Pacific’s collective voice is ambitious. ”
She said engagement with key regional blocs is critical.
“We engaged directly with advisors from PSIDS and AOSIS to identify exactly how to maximise our impact.”
Kwansing said Kiribati is pushing to keep its priorities front and centre.
“For Kiribati, this was crucial opportunity to ensure that our unique challenges – particularly the intersection of gender justice and climate resilience – are at the forefront of the regional agenda leading into the Pre-COP meetings in Fiji and Tuvalu.”
She stressed the need to put people at the centre of climate action.
“We must position our people—especially our women and youth—as active agents of resilience strategies that will define our future!”
Kwansing said the region must move beyond rhetoric.
“To do so, we are preparing for COP31 with specific targets in mind, rather than repeating the same jargon that has dominated these halls for years! We must arrive with real, actionable solutions that solve problems at the frontlines and address the unique circumstances of the Pacific.”
She said the focus now is on delivering outcomes.
“I look forward to the work ahead as we carry the “ledger of survival” towards serious outcomes for our people,” Kwansing said……PACNEWS
PAC – CHURCH: WCC PACNEWS 2: Tue 14 Apr 2026
Pacific Church Leaders’ Meeting opens in Fiji with focus on “life, identity, and spirituality”
SUVA, 14 OCTOBER 2026 (WCC)—As the Pacific Church Leaders’ Meeting opened in Fiji, World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Reverend Professor Dr Jerry Pillay offered a sermon entitled “Resurrection Hope in the Pacific: Life Rising from the Ocean of Struggle.”
Frances Namoumou, programmes manager of the Pacific Conference of Churches and member of the WCC Commission on Climate Justice and Sustainable Development, reads one of the prayers of intercession during the welcome service on Monday.
The Pacific Ocean is not empty space—it is sacred space, noted Pillay.
“For Pacific peoples, the ocean is life, identity, and spirituality,” he said. “It connects islands and generations. It is never just water. It is life. It is memory. It is identity. It is story.”
Yet today, this sacred space is under threat, Pillay said.
“In the language of the WCC, this is not only an environmental crisis—it is a matter of justice, dignity, and life in fullness for all,” he said. “So, when we speak of resurrection, we speak not only of Christ’s victory over death, but of God’s commitment to life amid injustice.”
In the Pacific, the ocean speaks, continued Pillay. “It speaks of life, beauty, and abundance—but today it also speaks of crisis,” he said. “Resurrection hope is therefore justice-shaped hope.”
The WCC has repeatedly called the church to hear the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor. “It does not matter whether you are in Fiji, Geneva, Africa, or anywhere else on the earth,” he said. “We are together family, part of God’s creation.”
Resurrection hope does not deny suffering—it names it truthfully, while proclaiming that God is birthing something new, continued Pillay.
“The World Council of Churches speaks of the church not as static, but as a pilgrim people,” he said. “In the Pacific, this image is powerful.”
A story often told in Kiribati speaks of a community that, before relocating, gathered for worship, took sand from their ancestral shore, and carried it with them.
“Resurrection transforms displacement into pilgrimage with God,” said Pillay. “In WCC theology, salvation is never merely individual. It is communal and cosmic.”
God is renewing the whole web of life, noted Pillay. “The World Council of Churches calls the church to prophetic witness,” he said. “Resurrection is not passive comfort—it is active resistance to death-dealing powers.”
Pacific churches have become prophetic voices in global forums, said Pillay.
“Resurrection hope in the Pacific is not abstract theology,” he said. “It is lived reality.”
The Pacific will not be defined by loss – but by life, Pillay said. “May this be our resurrection hope here in Fiji and in every part of the world where hope is needed in the presence of suffering and struggle,” he said.
Reverend Elder Dr Leatulagi Faalevao, moderator of the Pacific Conference of Churches, offered words of welcome.
“We gather tonight with gratitude to God, who has brought us from many islands, nations, languages, and church traditions, and has gathered us here as one in Christ,” said Faalevao.
“We come to revisit the foundations of the Pacifica Household of God, to reflect on the journey we have travelled together, and to discern how we are called to respond faithfully to the realities facing our peoples and our region.”
Faalevao reflected that the meeting is intended to deepen shared understanding, strengthen fellowship, and help clarify pathways toward the future.
“Over the next few days, may we not only meet as church leaders, but gather as sisters and brothers in Christ, listening together for what the Spirit is saying to the churches of the Pacific at this time,” said Faalevao.
The Pacific Church Leaders’ Meeting is currently underway in Suva, Fiji, from 13-17 April….PACNEWS
SOL – CYCLONE RESPONSE: SOLOMON STAR PACNEWS 2: Tue 14 Apr 2026
$2.5M allocated for Western for relief distribution
HONIARA, 14 APRIL 2026 (SOLOMON STAR)—Western Province has secured $2.5 million(US$310,931) from the $10 million (US$1.24 million) allocated by the National Government to support emergency response efforts following the impact of Tropical Cyclone Maila.
Chairman of the Provincial Disaster Committee (PDC), Collin Potakana, confirmed to Solomon Star in an exclusive interview on Sunday that the Government has committed an initial $10 million(US$1.24 million) a to assist both Western and Choiseul provinces.
Potakana said Western Province will receive $2.5 millionn(US$310,931) from the total allocation to support relief operations across the province.
He said the funds will be directed towards assisting affected communities, particularly through the distribution of essential food supplies and non-food items (NFIs).
“We are now moving into the distribution phase of food supplies,” Potakana said.
“As we speak, two ships are travelling to Western Province carrying 30 containers of rice, food supplies and non-food items.”
He said the vessels are expected to arrive either Monday or Tuesday, with distribution to begin immediately upon arrival.
According to Potakana, the two ships will cover the most affected regions.
“One ship will serve the Central and Western region, including Simbo, Ranongga and South Vella. The other will travel to North Vella, the Shortland Islands, Fauro and Mono,” he said.
He added that alternative options, including the use of helicopters, are being considered to deliver supplies to hard-to-reach communities.
“As soon as it is confirmed, we will proceed with air delivery as well,” he said.
Potakana further revealed that a Hercules aircraft is also expected to arrive in Munda with additional relief supplies.
He stressed that the immediate priority is to ensure timely distribution of assistance to affected communities across the province.
Following the declaration of a State of Emergency in Western Province, evacuation centres have been established in Gizo, accommodating families displaced by the disaster.
Meanwhile, Potakana clarified that the $2.5 million(US$310,931) allocation has yet to be received at the provincial level, as the funds are currently with the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO).
He said the province expects the funds to be transferred by Monday.
The Prime Minister has confirmed that the Government has activated national disaster response arrangements under the National Disaster Management Plan 2018 to ensure a coordinated and timely response.
Other Provinces including Central, Isabel and Guadalcanal Province was included in the $10 million (US$1.24 million) relief assistance…. PACNEWS
PAC – DISASTER RESPONSE: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 2: Tue 14 Apr 2026
Pacific leaders warn of disaster response gaps
SIGATOKA, 14 APRIL 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Pacific disaster leaders have warned of critical gaps in emergency response as risks intensify across the region.
They are calling for stronger coordination and more connected systems.
Meeting in Fiji for the 2026 Pacific Regional Disaster and Emergency Managers Meeting (PRDEMM), delegates said improving how countries work together is key to protecting communities facing increasingly complex threats.
The week-long meeting opened Monday in Nadroga, bringing together heads of delegations from the Pacific region, national disaster management office directors, chiefs of police and fire services, civil society groups, United Nations agencies and development partners.
Pacific Community (SPC) Geoscience, Energy and Maritime (GEM) Division director Rhonda Robinson said the region must address persistent gaps in preparedness and response.
“We’ve all sat in those moments before a response kicks in, wondering whether the pieces are actually aligned,” she said.
“Whether the supplies are where they need to be and whether the warning got through is a familiar tension.”
She said closing those gaps was why regional cooperation was critical.
“When our people know each other, when our systems talk to each other, we are far better placed to protect communities.”
Robinson said risks were becoming more complex, with several Pacific countries already responding to or recovering from cyclones and tropical depressions.
“We gather at a time when risk is growing more complex, and the effects are closer to home.
“Across the Pacific right now, countries are responding to or recovering from events. That should focus our thinking,” she said.
She also stressed SPC’s Disaster and Water Resilience Programme, noting a shift towards recognising water security as central to resilience.
Robinson said resilience efforts must be community-driven and inclusive.
“Resilience is not built in silos, and it’s not built for communities; it’s built with them. That means embedding climate action and disaster risk management into national strategies and ensuring the people most affected have a real voice in shaping them.”
“As we begin this week together, may our discussions be grounded, our thinking open, and our resolve steady, guided always by the wellbeing of our Pacific people,” she said…..PACNEWS
AUST – CYCLONE RESPONSE: AAP PACNEWS 2: Tue 14 Apr 2026
Australian Pacific cyclone aid welcomed, ‘more needed’
CANBERRA, 14 APRIL 2026 (AAP)—Australia has made a “small but vital” pledge of humanitarian support for two Pacific neighbours after a tropical cyclone triggered severe flooding and landslides, killing at least 11 people.
Cyclone Maila tore through communities, destroying homes, roads and bridges as it tracked across parts of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands last week and across the weekend.
Four children are reportedly among the people killed in PNG, and the Solomon Islands government has declared a state of disaster in two provinces.
Save the Children Australia Pacific regional director Kim Koch said many people were without food, water and shelter, but a clear picture of Maila’s full impact was still emerging.
“We haven’t been able to send boats out to all of the islands,” she told AAP on Monday.
“It’s quite remote, some of these areas, and the rain is still coming, so we’re struggling.”
The federal government will provide an initial $1.5 million (US$1.06 million) to the Solomon Islands, where the most severe impacts from Maila have been felt in remote communities.
A further $1 million (US$700,000) will help PNG respond to humanitarian needs in areas impacted by the cyclone, including the Autonomous Region of Bougainville and islands in Milne Bay Province.
The Australian Council for International Development said it was deeply concerned about the cyclone’s ongoing impacts, and the funding was a “small, but vital, contribution”.
“People in the region are being severely impacted by strong winds, heavy flooding, and damage to infrastructure and roads,” chief executive Matthew Maury said.
“It is clear further contributions will be needed as communities seek to rebuild as this crisis continues to unfold.”
The impacted region comprises hundreds of small islands, where many people live in isolated communities.
“Really hard to reach areas in conditions that remain super volatile,” Koch said.
“Taking small boats full of supplies out onto a rough sea, it’s just not ideal and safe. It’s really rough going.”
Water and food supplies are the immediate need.
“We have reports from the Solomon Islands that a lot of water sources in coastal communities have been salinated,” Koch said.
“Eventually, the lack of clean water available will start to lead to disease and nutrition issues.
‘Getting that assessment, getting that assistance out there quickly, is critical.”
Save the Children is among the aid organisations on the ground. It is delivering hygiene and shelter kits, and cash payments to impacted families in Bougainville.
“In the Solomon Islands, we have been able to distribute food to some of the evacuation centres and have been able to start up some child-friendly spaces to give kids a safe play area,” Koch said……PACNEWS
PAC – CHURCH/DIPLOMACY: WCC PACNEWS 2: Tue 14 Apr 2026
Pacific Voices, global Impact: WCC general secretary advances climate justice, regional partnership agendas
SUVA, 14 APRIL 2026 (WCC)—Reverend Professor Dr Jerry Pillay, general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), advanced a regional agenda focused on climate justice, cooperation, and theological engagement during a series of high-level meetings in Suva, Fiji, Monday.
A courtesy call with Baron Divavesi Waqa, secretary general of the Pacific Islands Forum, at its headquarters, highlighted a shared commitment to strengthening collaboration between churches and regional institutions.
Pillay emphasised the WCC’s desire to “learn from Pacific churches and deepen cooperation on common priorities, particularly in addressing climate change.”
Underscoring the moral role of faith communities, Pillay noted that “churches bring ethical discernment, theological grounding, and a unique capacity to mobilise communities in the pursuit of climate justice.” He also highlighted the “prophetic witness” of Pacific churches in responding to global challenges.
Waqa outlined the region’s pressing concerns, including climate change, security, drug trafficking, illegal fishing, cybersecurity, and unfair trade.
He stressed that churches are vital partners in raising awareness and driving action: “Churches can work with us to push through, via congregations, our main concerns for the region. National and regional challenges must also become priorities for church engagement.”
Pillay was accompanied by Reverend James Bhagwan, general secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches and Dr Marcelo Schneider, WCC staff, while Waqa was joined by Gayle Manueli of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.
Earlier in the day, Pillay met with Reverend Professor Dr Upolu Luma Vaai of the Pasifika Communities University to explore academic and theological collaboration.
Discussions focused on strengthening Pacific theological contributions to global discourse, particularly on climate change, and enhancing ecumenical education and research partnerships….PACNEWS
FIJI – DRUGS FIGHT: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 2: Tue 14 Apr 2026
Fiji Police target alleged Australian drug kingpin
SUVA, 14 APRIL 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—Fiji Police say they remain determined to bring an Australian man accused of orchestrating the country’s largest-ever drug seizure before the courts, vowing to pursue international links behind the operation.
Speaking to ABC programme Foreign Correspondent, Assistant Commissioner of Police Mesake Waqa said authorities have already dismantled local networks tied to the case.
“We have already rounded up the local crime syndicates,” he said.
“We will only rest once we charge those responsible, those international crime syndicates.”
Australian national Sam Amine, 49, is wanted by Fiji Police for allegedly orchestrating the importation of more than four tonnes of methamphetamine seized in January 2024 — the largest drug bust in the nation’s history.
“It is my wish for Sam Amine to face trial here in Fiji,” ACP Waqa said.
Authorities say the drugs were supplied by Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel and intended for markets in Australia and New Zealand, with Fiji used as a transit and storage point.
Evidence accepted by the High Court indicates the consignment was stored for several days at a warehouse in Denarau before being intercepted.
Senior Australian law enforcement sources told the ABC that Amine is considered “a major regional target” linked to large-scale drug trafficking routes through the Pacific.
ACP Waqa revealed that part of the shipment had already been moved through commercial air carriers bound for Australia before the bulk seizure was made.
Police say investigations remain ongoing as they work with international partners to track down those responsible…..PACNEWS
AUST – DEFENCE: AAP PACNEWS 2: Tue 14 Apr 2026
New Australian army chief makes history as first woman in role
CANBERRA, 14 APRIL 2026 (AAP)—The appointment of the first woman to lead the Australian army has been hailed as a significant moment for the defence force, but experts say more work is needed to improve representation across the organisation.
Susan Coyle, current chief of joint capabilities, will be the first woman to be appointed head of any branch of the Australian Defence Force when she steps into the role of chief of army in July.
Lieutenant General Coyle enlisted as a soldier in the army reserves in 1987 and has since been deployed to East Timor, the Solomon Islands and Afghanistan.
In 2020, she was the first woman to command the joint task force for all Australian operations in the Middle East.
While there would be much focus on what the appointment means for women, defence expert Jennifer Parker said Lt Gen Coyle’s impressive service during her career must be acknowledged.
“Men and women, particularly those within the ADF, should be very proud of this day … Lt Gen Coyle has significant operational and professional experience and has led a range of commands throughout her career,” Parker told AAP.
“It has taken us too long to get here, and I think we shouldn’t take this as read that everything is solved in terms of representation across the ADF.
“We still need to focus on making sure we have opportunities for women and people with different backgrounds.”
Parker, who served in the Royal Australian Navy for more than 20 years and is an expert associate at the ANU National Security College, said it was only in 2013 that restrictions on women serving in all defence roles were removed.
“We should reflect on how much things have changed, but also that there is still more to do,” she said.
“It’s incredibly important for women to see the opportunities available to them … this is a significant moment for the army, but I wonder how long it will still take for a woman to be appointed the head of the navy or air force.”
Lt Gen Coyle’s appointment comes as the defence force grapples with allegations from female veterans about sexual abuse and harassment experienced during their service.
About 2500 women have joined a landmark class action case against the Commonwealth, alleging a culture of systemic sexual abuse, harassment and discrimination within the ADF.
Changing a culture within any organisation required more than one significant appointment, Parker said.
“This is a complex thing. Culture is ever evolving … (this announcement) is a signal of things going in the right direction, but there are still changes to be made,” she said.
“I’m not sure one moment signifies that a culture has changed. It’s about constant small changes.”
Announcing the appointment, Defence Minister Richard Marles revealed Lt Gen Coyle told him, “you cannot be what you cannot see”.
“Susan’s achievement will be deeply significant to women who are serving in the Australian Defence Force today and women who are thinking about serving … in the future” he told reporters on Monday.
Marles is set to address the National Press Club in Canberra on Thursday, when he will launch the 2026 National Defence Strategy and Integrated Investment ProgramME.
He is expected to announce the federal government will invest up to $15 billion (US$10,64 billion) in uncrewed and autonomous systems for the defence force, including drones, in the next decade…. PACNEWS
FIJI – NATIONAL IDENTITY: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 2: Tue 14 Apr 2026
‘Fijian’ should remain a shared identity: Kotobalavu
SUVA, 14 APRIL 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—Former senior civil servant and academic Jioji Kotobalavu has pushed back against proposals to reserve the term ‘Fijian” exclusively for the iTaukei.
He warned that redefining the word risks dividing the nation.
Kotobalavu said Fiji must clearly separate ethnic identity from national identity, arguing that ‘Fijian’ should remain a shared term that unites all citizens.
While “iTaukei” accurately reflects indigenous history, land ownership and cultural rights, he said ‘Fijian’ represents citizenship and equality.
Kotobalavu noted that indigenous people already hold unique recognition as the first settlers of Fiji and as customary owners of about 92 percent of the country’s land — rights that are protected under law and the Constitution.
However, he stressed that citizenship is different from ethnicity.
“What binds us together is our equal status as citizens,” he said, adding that the term ‘Fijian’ reflects that unity in government, in international forums and when national teams represent the country overseas.
He also reminded leaders of past calls for unity, including appeals by figures such as Jai Ram Reddy and Mahendra Chaudhry, who urged traditional leadership to look after all communities in Fiji.
The debate comes at a sensitive time as Fiji reviews its Constitution and grapples with broader questions of identity, inclusion and equality.
Under the 2013 Constitution, all citizens — regardless of ethnicity — are recognised as ‘Fijians’, a national identity based on equal citizenship. At the same time, the Constitution clearly recognises the iTaukei and Rotumans as Fiji’s indigenous communities….PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
UN – IRAN /GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS: UN NEWS CENTRE PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 14 Apr 2026
‘Clock is ticking’: Hormuz disruption raises fears of global food crisis
ROME/TEHRAN, 14 APRIL 2206 (UN NEWS CENTRE) —The clock is ticking for global food systems as disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz threaten to choke off the flow of fuel and crucial fertilisers needed for the next planting season – also raising the risk of higher food prices and a new wave of inflation.
A fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran has done little to restore confidence in the vital maritime corridor, where renewed tensions – including a newly announced US blockade on ships using Iranian ports – are keeping vessels idle and supply chains strained.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow but critical waterway, carries a significant share of the world’s energy and agricultural inputs. Disruptions since the outbreak of hostilities on 28 February are already constraining flows of oil, gas and fertiliser for newly planted staples, with ripple effects reaching far beyond the Middle East.
Satellite view of the Strait of Hormuz, showing the narrow waterway between the Arabian Peninsula and the Musandam Peninsula of Oman.
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow but vital shipping route linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the wider Arabian Sea. It lies between Iran to the north and Oman and UAE to the south.
“We have 30-35 percent of the crude oil, which is not moving, 20 percent of natural gas…and between 20 to 30 percent of other fertilisers that are not moving out,” said Máximo Torero, Chief Economist of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
“That’s the magnitude of the potential impact,” he warned.
While the ceasefire briefly raised expectations that shipping could resume, uncertainty remains high. Talks between the U.S and Iran, mediated by Pakistan this weekend, failed to yield any breakthrough.
Many vessels remain stranded in the Gulf, with new shipments yet to enter the corridor. Shipowners and insurers are reluctant to risk costly assets and crews amid ongoing insecurity. Even if tensions ease, it could take days or weeks for traffic to normalise.
That delay is critical, warns David Laborde, Director of Agrifood Economics Division at FAO.
Much of the cargo that left the Gulf before the crisis has already reached its destination — meaning the world is now entering a phase where supplies could begin to tighten.
“We are going to see the real stop in supply” in the days ahead, he said.
Global food markets remain stable for now, supported by existing stocks, even as supply disruptions raise concerns for the months ahead.
Despite sharp increases in input costs, global food prices have not yet surged – a point FAO economists stress should not be mistaken for a sign of underlying stability.
The FAO’s Food Price Index for March showed only modest increases, reflecting strong global stocks and good harvests last year.
“We have enough supplies…and good stocks which allow the agri-food system…to be resilient to this shock,” Torero said.
But that buffer may be short-lived. As planting decisions are made in the coming weeks, farmers facing higher costs and limited access to fertilisers may reduce input use or shift crops – lowering yields in the next season.
“If we don’t have the inputs in the time that is needed…that implies that producers will have to produce with less inputs,” he said. “And therefore, they could have lower yields.”
That, in turn, could drive up food prices later in the year and into the next.
The risks extend across the entire food value chain. Energy underpins everything from farm machinery to transport, while fertilisers – particularly nitrogen-based products linked to natural gas – are critical for crop yields.
The impact is global: from the US and Canada to Australia, farmers depend on stable access to energy and inputs to maintain production, while import-dependent countries – including many in Africa, such as Kenya – face heightened exposure to price shocks and supply disruptions.
Higher oil prices are also increasing incentives to divert crops such as maize, sugar and oilseeds toward biofuel production, tightening the balance between food and fuel.
“If we have rising demand because biofuels start to consume more…and lower supply because we have less input…food prices will go up,” Laborde warned.
FAO economists warn the situation could deteriorate further if additional pressures emerge – including export restrictions or climate shocks such as the El Niño weather pattern.
In past crises, countries have restricted exports to protect domestic markets, exacerbating global shortages.
“We need to avoid export restrictions…especially now for fertilisers and energy,” Torero said, warning that without coordination, vulnerable countries could be priced out of essential supplies.
Although the crisis is centred in the Middle East, its effects are spreading rapidly. Countries in Asia and the Global South are particularly exposed due to their reliance on imported energy and fertilisers and their position in the crop calendar.
“This will start to move from east to west…but also from the south to the north,” Torero said.
The consequences are both economic and human. Higher food prices hit poorer households hardest, while rising inflation could force governments to tighten monetary policy, slowing growth and increasing debt burdens.
Farmers are also under mounting pressure. Rising input costs and uncertainty are squeezing margins and raising the risk of longer-term disruptions to production.
“When you push them too much, you may bring them into bankruptcy,” Laborde said. “And then it means there will be a supply problem…for a longer period.”
Across parts of Asia, early signs of disruption are already emerging.
In South Asia, rising fuel and fertiliser costs are beginning to filter into food prices and farm decisions, with import-dependent economies under mounting pressure.
In Nepal, where millions of households rely on remittances from Gulf countries, disruptions to mobility and rising transport costs are already being felt – raising concerns that what begins as an external shock could quickly translate into hardship at home.
FAO is urging governments and international financial institutions to act quickly.
Short-term priorities include avoiding trade restrictions, supporting vulnerable households through social protection, and ensuring liquidity for farmers, including through credit lines and import financing.
Longer term, the crisis underscores the need to diversify energy sources, strengthen infrastructure and reduce reliance on chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz.
For now, FAO stresses that a full-blown food crisis is not inevitable – but the window to prevent one is rapidly closing.
“The clock is the key…Let’s avoid a perfect storm – be aware of the risks, put the right policies in place and pursue the diplomatic solutions needed to avert a food crisis we do not need,” Torero urged……PACNEWS
PAC – IRAN CRISIS/FUEL PRICE: PMN PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 14 Apr 2026
NZ defends cautious response as fuel prices, Pacific pressure grow
WELLINGTON, 14 APRIL 2026 (PMN)—Fuel prices are rising again, with Pacific communities feeling the pressure first and hardest as global tensions disrupt supply and push up costs.
The New Zealand Government is defending a cautious response, saying it must balance support for households with the risk of driving inflation even higher.
Fuel costs have climbed in recent weeks, flowing through to transport and everyday expenses.
In the Pacific, where families spend more of their income on fuel and imported goods, the impact is already being felt more sharply.
Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour said the coalition understands the strain on households but warned against quick fixes.
“The pressure that’s been put on families and on a lot of businesses is enormous,” he told Pacific Mornings.
“But if we throw out a lot of money, then we will kick off inflation and it will take years to get that under control again.”
Seymour said the government is wary of repeating what he described as overspending during the Covid-19 pandemic, citing warnings from credit rating agencies.
He also pushed back on calls for measures like free public transport, arguing they are not well targeted and could benefit those who do not need support.
New Zealand remains at “Phase 1” of its national fuel plan, meaning supply is stable but prices are rising due to global pressures.
The plan is designed to “keep fuel flowing where it matters most” unless supply is threatened.
But Labour MP Lemauga Lydia Sosene says the government is not doing enough for Pacific communities already under pressure.
“The government’s been too complacent. Kiwis want to know the fuel crisis plan,” Lemauga told Pacific Mornings. “We are in a crisis.”
She said families in areas like Māngere are being forced to make daily trade-offs between fuel, food, and other essentials, with some turning to public transport or cycling to cope.
“What Kiwis are asking us, and even in my own electorate of Māngere, is what is the government doing to alleviate some of those costs? $50(US$29) per week for certain parts of our community is just not enough,” Lemauga said.
New analysis shows Pacific families face deeper impacts than those in New Zealand, with fuel costs cutting household spending power by up to 12 percent in some countries.
The effect is amplified by heavy reliance on imported fuel and goods, meaning price rises quickly feed into food, transport, and basic living costs.
ChildFund New Zealand chief executive Josie Pagani also told Pacific Mornings the situation is already serious. “It’s devastating. I mean, if it goes on any longer, it starts to be a real long-term issue.”
She warned fuel shortages could begin to affect essential services. “They can’t run those pumps,” Pagani said.
Seymour said the government is working closely with Pacific partners as the situation develops, with officials in daily contact across the region.
“We would make sure that our friends in the Pacific can still do the life-supporting services and still do the food distribution, and then worry about other activities in both countries,” he said.
The pressure comes as the US-Israel-Iran conflict continues to disrupt oil markets and shipping routes.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters raised those concerns in Washington during talks with U.S Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“We had a serious discussion about how that might help, how we might get some ancillary tankers ready and get them to New Zealand to spread it around the Pacific as fast as we possibly can,” he told RNZ.
“We left all that very clearly in their mind as concerns we had.”
The U.S has signalled it could help with fuel supply, but no firm commitments have been made.
For Pacific communities already facing rising costs, the focus is now on urgent action.
“Get the fuel tankers to the Pacific so that there’s storage on hand,” Pagani said.
As pressure builds, calls are growing for faster and more direct support across the region…..PACNEWS
FIJI – ECONOMY: FIJI GOVT PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 14 Apr 2026
Finance Minister says Fiji maintains economic resilience amid global uncertainty
SUVA, 14 APRIL 2026 (FIJI GOVT) —The Minister for Finance, Commerce and Business Development, Esrom Immanuel, highlighted Fiji’s economic resilience despite a challenging global environment at the launch of the Asian Development Bank’s Development Outlook.
The Minister noted that Fiji’s economy grew by around 3.0 percent in 2025, marking a transition from post-pandemic recovery toward more sustainable and broad-based growth.
This performance was supported by key sectors including tourism, agriculture and construction, alongside resilient consumer spending.
However, he cautioned that escalating geopolitical tensions and disruptions to global energy markets have introduced new risks.
Rising fuel prices and supply uncertainties are expected to place upward pressure on inflation, increase business costs and potentially impact tourism and overall economic momentum.
“Tourism continues to play a central role in the economy, with modest growth in visitor arrivals in 2025 supported by markets in North America and Europe, as well as strong domestic tourism” he said.
The Minister also highlighted the importance of the upcoming national Budget, noting it will set a forward-looking policy direction focused on resilience, sustainable growth and addressing the needs of all Fijians.
Esrom encouraged stakeholders to actively participate in ongoing budget consultations to ensure an inclusive and impactful outcome…. PACNEWSS
FIJI – TOURISM INDUSTRY: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 14 Apr 2026
Joint ownership model elevates Yasawa Islands Tourism
YASAWA, 14 APRIL 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS)—A new joint-ownership model between local landowners and investors marks a pioneering approach to tourism development in the Yasawa Islands, located in the north-west of Fiji’s main island, Viti Levu.
A landmark equal-ownership project combines local land contributions with investor capital to expand existing resorts.
“The community contributes three to four acres of land and existing hotel facilities. The investor supplies all capital for development, including 38 new villas,” said Lavenia Naivalu, Tourism Association Representative, Yasawa region.
“Profits will be split 50/50 between the landowners and investors. The project aims to balance community stewardship with professional resort management and marketing.”
This model offers a replicable path for emerging communities to share in tourism growth.
She said the land remains under community stewardship, ensuring ongoing local control.
“Discussions with iTaukei Land Trust Board (ITLTB) explored contributions beyond land to meet investment requirements.
“Local leadership views this as a sustainable way to build opportunities for both community and business. The approach reflects years of relationship-building and partnership development.”
The project timeline aligns with regulatory approvals, and construction is slated to start in early December 2024.
Naivalu added, “Recent final approvals permit building to commence imminently. The investment company is jointly owned by Nalovo Investment Co. Ltd, equally owned by Blue Lagoon Beach Resort and our Mataqali.
“This expansion fits within broader regional development and environmental studies. Community trustees oversee negotiations and relationships with corporate and government partners.”
Community trust governance ensures equitable benefit distribution and oversight of development.
“The trust includes seven high chiefs, five district reps, and 27 Turaga ni Koro (village headmen). It serves as the negotiating body for community interests in tourism and resource use,” she said.
“Past partnerships with South Sea Cruises have delivered scholarships, infrastructure, and climate adaptation programmes.”
This governance structure underpins sustainable development aligned with cultural values…..PACNEWS
PACNEWS In Focus
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Solomons vanishing Islands: Walande and Fanalei on the Frontlines of Climate Change
By Ednal Palmer
HONIARA, 14 APRIL 2026 (INDEPTH SOLOMONS)—At low tide, just off the coast of South Malaita in the Solomon Islands, a few wooden posts emerge from the waters.
They aren’t easy to miss – although weathered, fragile, and half-submerged.
But for the people of Walande, those posts are more than debris. They are the last visible remains of a once-thriving artificial island that over 800 people once called home.
For generations, Walande stood as a symbol of resilience and ingenuity.
Built by hand and maintained through communal effort, the artificial island supported families, traditions, and livelihoods tied closely to the sea. But over time, rising seas, stronger storms, and increasingly severe “king tides” began to reshape daily life.
Floodwaters crept into homes. Seawalls weakened. Each year, rebuilding became harder.
Still, the community stayed.
For decades, Walande residents adapted. They rebuilt houses, reinforced stone walls, and adjusted their way of life to the changing environment. Leaving was not an easy option.
The island was not just land—it was identity, culture, and history.
But in 2009, a series of devastating king tides marked a turning point.
“We left because it was no longer possible to stand the rising tides,” recalled Francis Iro, an elder of Walande.
“We had to move to safety. The only alternative for us was the mainland.”
With few choices left, the community decided on a last resort: relocate entirely.
They moved to a 46-acre site on mainland South Malaita. It was a monumental undertaking – one that demonstrated community – and tribal-led initiative on resettlement.
Willie Firi, another community person spoken to, recalled that despite appeals for assistance when they faced the hurdle, support from the Solomon Islands government and international donors fell short.
“Undeterred, we organized ourselves. We planned, negotiated with mainland tribal landowners, and successfully executed our relocation largely on our own,” Firi said.
“Families rebuilt homes. Community members worked together to construct a new village. The move was difficult, and losses were inevitable,” he recalled.
Yet Walande’s relocation became a powerful example of community-led adaptation – marked by ingenuity, leadership, and perseverance in the face of climate change.
But the struggle did not end there.
Today, the same forces that drove Walande from their island are threatening many other low-lying communities throughout the Solomon Islands.
The nearby Fanalei community is slowly being scattered. A recent visit found the village already being torn apart by the sea.
“Many families have already moved to the mainland,” community elder Filei told In-Depth Solomons.
He said the handful of houses that remain on Fanalei Island may leave as well, but that intervention by responsible authorities and environmental support groups is critical.
It was very clear that the Island of Fanalei has gradually shrunk over the years. Coconut trees that once stood near the shoreline have fallen into the sea.
Burial grounds, sacred to the community, are now gone.
During particularly high tides, waves crash over homes, forcing families to stay awake through the night, ready to move children and belongings to safer ground.
“It’s painful. You watch the sea take your land piece by piece.”
Filei admitted that moving was not simple. Many families had blood-related connections on the Malaita mainland, but relocation meant building new homes, establishing new water sources, and adapting to a new way of life away from the sea.
In-Depth Solomons found that despite the relocation efforts from Fanalei, a few remained on Fanalei
“The islands were not just homes – they were identities. Generations had been born here, married here, and buried here. Leaving meant more than moving houses; it meant leaving history,” another resident, Rex, stated.
Climate change has made the choice of relocation for many communities in the Solomon Islands increasingly urgent.
According to regional climate projections, sea levels in the Pacific are rising faster than the global average.
For low-lying artificial islands like Walande and Fanalei, even small increases in sea level can have devastating impacts.
Saltwater intrusion contaminates wells. Storm surges become more destructive. Coastal erosion accelerates.
Communities have tried to adapt. Villagers continue reinforcing shorelines with coral stones. Some have planted mangroves to reduce wave impacts. Others have elevated homes.
But these measures provide only temporary relief.
For the people of Walande and Fanalei, climate change is not a distant concept discussed in international conferences. It is the water that seeps into their homes, the fish that no longer swim nearby, the stones that must be stacked higher every year.
It is also the quiet departure of neighbours, the dismantling of homes, and the painful decision to leave ancestral islands behind.
Yet even in the face of uncertainty, the communities remain resilient.
On calm evenings, families still gather to share meals. Children still play along narrow paths. Fishermen still head out before dawn, hoping the sea will provide.
Rex said he often returns to the edge of the submerged wooden posts, looking out toward the waters where he once fished with his father.
“The sea gave us life,” he says softly. “Now it is changing everything.”
As climate change continues to reshape the Pacific, the story of Walande and Fanalei stands as a powerful reminder: for small island communities, rising seas are not just environmental challenges — they are deeply human stories of memory, loss, and resilience.
And for Rex, the memory of fishing trips in the 1990s remains vivid – a time when the tuna were close, the tides were gentle, and the island beneath his feet felt permanent.
Loss and Damage: Climate Change Impacts in the Solomon Islands
For communities across the Solomon Islands, climate change is no longer a distant environmental concern — it is a lived reality.
Rising seas, stronger storms, changing rainfall patterns, and warming oceans are already causing irreversible losses and damages, particularly in low-lying coastal and island communities.
From the artificial islands of southern Malaita Province to its Sikaiana atoll inhabitants, the impacts are deeply human, affecting livelihoods, culture, food security, and even national identity.
The Solomon Islands is made up of more than 900 islands, many of which are low-lying and highly vulnerable to sea level rise.
Coastal communities are already experiencing land loss as shorelines erode and tides creep further inland.
OBM is the main means of transportation around the Walande, Fanalei and other villages on the mainland of Small Malaita.
Changing Weather Patterns and Flooding
Climate change is also altering rainfall patterns across the country. Heavier rainfall events are causing more frequent flooding, especially in low-lying urban areas.
The devastating floods in Honiara in 2014 highlighted the growing risks. Homes were destroyed, infrastructure damaged, and thousands of people displaced. These extreme weather events are becoming more common and more intense as climate change progresses.
For rural communities, unpredictable rainfall disrupts farming cycles. Crops such as sweet potato, cassava, and taro — staple foods in the Solomon Islands — are increasingly vulnerable to droughts and floods. This threatens food security, particularly in remote communities that rely heavily on subsistence farming.
Impacts on Fisheries and Livelihoods
The ocean is central to life in the Solomon Islands. Many communities depend on fishing for food and income. However, warming sea temperatures and ocean acidification are affecting marine ecosystems.
Coral reefs, which support fish populations, are experiencing bleaching events. As reefs degrade, fish stocks decline or migrate to cooler waters. This forces fishermen to travel further from shore, increasing costs and risks.
Tuna, a key economic resource for the country, is also expected to shift eastward as ocean temperatures change. This could affect national revenue from fisheries, which is a major contributor to the Solomon Islands’ economy.
Cultural Loss and Displacement
One of the most significant aspects of Loss and Damage in the Solomon Islands is cultural loss.
Land is deeply connected to identity, heritage, and tradition. When communities relocate due to climate change, they risk losing cultural practices, sacred sites, and ancestral connections.
In many cases, relocation is complex. Customary land ownership systems can make it difficult for displaced communities to secure new land. This creates social tensions and uncertainty for affected families.
Climate displacement is already happening in parts of the Solomon Islands, and it is expected to increase in the coming decades.
Economic Loss and Infrastructure Damage
Climate change also damages infrastructure such as roads, schools, clinics, and water systems.
Small island economies like the Solomon Islands have limited resources to repair and rebuild after disasters.
Cyclones, storm surges, and floods strain government budgets and slow development progress. Communities often rebuild using their own limited resources, only to face repeated damage from future climate events.
This cycle of destruction and rebuilding is a major component of Loss and Damage.
International Recognition and Support
The Solomon Islands has been a strong advocate for global action on Loss and Damage. Along with other Pacific nations, it has called for financial support from major emitting countries to help address climate impacts.
At international climate negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Pacific Island countries pushed for recognition of Loss and Damage. This effort gained momentum during COP27 United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2022, where countries agreed to establish a Loss and Damage fund to support vulnerable nations.
For the Solomon Islands, such support is crucial. Communities are already experiencing impacts beyond their ability to adapt.
A Human Story
Climate change in the Solomon Islands is ultimately about people – families losing homes, fishermen traveling further for food, and communities making difficult decisions about relocation.
From the artificial islands of southern Malaita to coastal villages across the country, the impacts are visible and growing. Loss and Damage is no longer a future concern – it is shaping lives today.
For the Solomon Islands, addressing climate change is not just about protecting the environment. It is about safeguarding culture, livelihoods, and the future of island communities that have called these shores home for generations.
The Solomon Islands Government has recognised that climate change is causing inshore sea-level rise, coastal erosion, and saltwater intrusion, rendering islands like Walande and Fanalei uninhabitable.
The new Walande relocation settlement on Small Malaita
As such, the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM) has partnered with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to launch the Planned Relocation Guidelines in 2022 to support communities facing slow-onset disasters.
While the guidelines are a significant step, reports (including in 2025) note they remain largely unimplemented, forcing communities to lead their own relocation processes, which creates new vulnerabilities regarding land rights, conflict, and food security.
At the provincial level, the Malaita provincial government has acknowledged the need for organized relocation but has highlighted the difficulty of balancing landowner interests with the needs of displaced settlers, urging formal consultation to avoid conflicts.
Walande’s story is both a warning and a testament. It demonstrates the extraordinary resilience of communities facing climate change, but it also underscores the consequences of inadequate support. Planned relocation, when poorly resourced, can lead to renewed insecurity and further displacement.
As the tide rises once more, the wooden posts (remains of Walande) in the water serve as a reminder of what has already been lost—and a symbol of the urgent need for thoughtful, sustained solutions for communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis……PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Are we heading for ‘super El Niño’ – and what could we expect?
Experts say climate pattern could supercharge extreme weather events and push temperatures to record highs
By Gabrielle Canon
WASHINGTON, 14 APRIL 2026 ( THE GUARDIAN)—There is a high likelihood that the phenomenon known as “El Niño” will emerge this summer – and it could be exceptionally strong. A so-called “super El Niño” could supercharge extreme weather events and push global temperatures to record heights next year if it develops, according to experts.
Meteorologists are keeping a close eye on the climate patterns developing in the Pacific Ocean that will enable stronger predictions about what’s to come in the year ahead.
A strong El Niño would put 2027 in the running to break global heat records, and could produce a series of devastating effects, ranging from supercharged rainstorms to drought depending on the region of the world.
While it’s not “a slam dunk”, climate scientist and media director for Climate Central Tom Di Liberto said during a briefing held on Thursday that the ingredients for El Niño are there. Forecasts in spring can’t account for unexpected changes that can happen over the summer, he added, but “the risk is high enough to be worried”.
Here’s what you need to know:
What is El Niño?
The ocean and the atmosphere are inextricably linked. That’s why forecasters look closely at ocean temperatures and conditions to help predict future weather patterns around the world.
El Niño is characterized by warming of the ocean surface in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. It’s one of three states scientists observe: La Niña, conversely, happens when sea surface temperatures are below average, and neutral conditions are defined when neither El Niño or La Niña are present and surface temperatures are about average.
These three states together form the “El Niño-southern oscillation” (Enso), which tends to develop during spring in the northern hemisphere and shifts every three to seven years, according to the US National Weather Service. Warming and cooling at sea surface during El Niño and La Niña can range from 1C to 3C, and have enormous effects on precipitation, drought, heat and climate disasters in different regions, depending on which direction they go.
During Niño years, the winds that would push warm waters to the west soften or shift direction, enabling the surface waters in that part of the Pacific to warm. Characterized by temperatures at least 0.5C above the norm, these conditions massively impact the weather and often push global temperatures to new heights.
Climate scientists are quick to point out that each event is unique and there’s considerable variability between them, in intensity and outcomes. But Enso predictions can help people around the world prepare for coming shifts in extreme weather – an essential tool in a warming world.
Conditions are currently shifting from La Niña to a neutral pattern, according to the latest outlook from the US Climate Prediction Centre released on 6 April, but models are showing a 62% chance El Niño will emerge this summer and linger until at least the end of the year.
How will El Niño affect weather events?
While there are many factors that create weather, El Niño can create a massive atmospheric upset. It alters jet streams and flips precipitation patterns, fueling more severe storms in some parts of the world, while desiccating others. It also has the power to spike rising temperatures even higher, at least briefly.
A super El Niño that occurred in 2015 brought severe drought in Ethiopia, water supply shortages in Puerto Rico, and smashed records after unleashing a vicious hurricane season in the central North Pacific, according to an analysis by US federal scientists.
The cycle tends to create drought and heat across Australia, around southern and central Africa, in India and in parts of South America, including in the Amazon rainforest. Heavy precipitation, meanwhile, could hit the southern tier of the US, parts of the Middle East, and south-central Asia.
Deluges could come as a welcome relief for thirsty states in the US hoping water supply shortages caused by this year’s dire snowpack might be bailed out by a strong summer monsoon and wetter winter next year. But as Di Liberto pointed out, these dry conditions have largely been fueled by heat, and it’s less likely that these regions will get a reprieve from rising temperatures.
“It’s important to note when we are talking about the drought, a lot of it has been temperature-driven and not precipitation-driven,” he said.
Experts have also said most devastatingly dry basins won’t be able to rebound after one wet season. That’s particularly true in the US south-west where some reservoirs are at an all-time low.
“Just because we’re expecting a large-scale change in the climate pattern doesn’t necessarily mean that we’re going to see drought completely erased,” Dr Joel Lisonbee, senior associate scientist at the Cooperative Institute for Research at the University of Colorado Boulder said. “It would have to be exceptionally wet,” he added. “That would also mean flooding, and the destruction and potential loss of life that comes along with that.”
Why are scientists talking about a ‘super El Niño’?
A “super” El Niño just means one that is stronger. These are rare events typically defined by sea surface temperatures spiking up to at least 2C. This has only occurred a few times since 1950 and only once have temperatures surged past 2.5C.
The higher they go, the higher the likelihood that impacts from El Niño would be supercharged. Noaa scientists have given a 1 in 4 chance that this could happen by fall or winter, with the caveat that spring forecasts are sometimes muddled. Transitions in conditions that happen in the spring can make outcomes a bit harder to predict. But there are already key indicators that a strong or super El Niño could be forming.
Dr Paul Roundy, a professor of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences at the University of Albany, wrote this week that there was “real potential for the strongest El Niño event in 140 years”. Dr Andy Hazelton, associate scientist at the University of Miami wrote: “All models and observations are pointing in the same direction: a very strong El Niño with significant impacts on global climate this year.”
How likely is this to happen?
While the models show a good chance that something big could develop, experts have also pointed out these readings tend to skew higher because of overall warming trends that affect baselines.
“We have this underlying warming trend that makes our El Niños look bigger than they really are and makes our La Niñas look smaller than they really are because everything’s just getting warmer,” said Lisonbee. This year, Noaa began using a new model to better identify what might be an anomaly and what’s tied to overall warming, but other tools still rely on historical data.
Spring also tends to not provide the clearest picture, due to natural transitions that happen during this time of year. “Even though our models are predicting El Niño right now and some models are predicting a very strong one, I would not be surprised to see the forecast change over the next few months,” Lisonbee said.
“We call it the spring predictability barrier, and the models tend to change quite a bit from one model run to the next.”
Even so, the probability is still high that El Niño will develop later this year. How strong it will be remains to be seen. But with conditions beginning to coalesce around the possibility for a severe shift, officials around the world are pushing for preparation.
“The most recent El Niño, in 2023-24, was one of the five strongest on record and it played a role in the record global temperatures we saw in 2024,” said the World Meteorological Organisation secretary general, Celeste Saulo, in a written statement, adding that officials are carefully monitoring conditions to inform key decisions.
“Seasonal forecasts for El Niño and La Niña help us avert millions of dollars in economic losses and are essential planning tools for climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture, health, energy and water management. They are also a key part of the climate intelligence provided by WMO to support humanitarian operations and disaster risk management, and thus save lives,” she said…..PACNEWS
