In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Vanuatu pursues climate justice at UN despite backlash
2. B/VILLE — 12 dead, 100,000 hit as Bougainville battles cyclone Maila devastation
3. COOKS — Migrant workers in Cook Islands call for better medical evacuation system, mandatory insurance
4. FIJI — Fiji defends UN stance on Israel
5. SOL — Solomon Islands Opposition leader calls for “Decisive action” on West Papua amid escalating violence
6. PACIFIC — Pacific resilience takes centre stage at USP graduation
7. UN — UN chief strongly condemns killing of another peacekeeper in southern Lebanon
8. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji assured of continued fuel supply following engagement with suppliers in Singapore
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji to host inaugural Pacific labour meetings
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Strengthening Food Safety for Pacific Seafood Exports
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Plans to tighten penalties on illegal mining in Fiji
12. PACNEWS DIGEST — Why lower fertility does not have to mean economic decline
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — Displacing the displaced: Two-Mile Hill and Port Moresby’s housing crisis
PAC – CLIMATE CHANGE: AFP PACNEWS 2: Mon 20 Apr 2026
Vanuatu pursues climate justice at UN despite backlash
NEW YORK, 20 APRIL 2026 (AFP)—- Vanuatu will renew its climate justice fight at the United Nations General Assembly with a draft resolution that was watered down after pushback from countries including oil-producing nations, according to documents seen by Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The Pacific island nation at the forefront of the quest to get financial support for countries suffering climate loss “revised” its text and set aside a proposal for a global “register” recording climate change damage after facing backlash.
In 2024, Vanuatu spearheaded the General Assembly’s request for an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on the responsibility of states to fulfill their climate commitments.
The world’s top court last year ruled that states were obliged to tackle climate change under international law, and failing to do so would pave the way to reparations for vulnerable countries.
The island nation proposed a new draft resolution at the start of this year to implement the ICJ ruling, which is non-binding but can be drawn on by courts around the world.
With a vote expected around May, Vanuatu Special Envoy for Climate Justice Lee-Anne Sackett told AFP that adopting the text was important for “protecting the authority of the court’s findings” and “operationalising” the advisory opinion.
“Even if it has been revised to try to build broad support,” the resolution can “strengthen climate action,” said the envoy.
An initial draft seen by AFP proposed the creation of an “International Register of Damage” to compile evidence of “damage, loss or injury attributable to climate change.”
This section was removed after facing backlash from the United States, China, the European Union, Japan and multiple oil-producing nations that argued it went beyond the opinion handed down by the ICJ, diplomatic sources told AFP.
“It will take a lot longer, which is difficult to accept, because we are already on our way to climate catastrophe, and every year does matter for us,” said the envoy from Vanuatu, which like other islands is threatened by rising sea levels accelerated by global warming.
“But we are still moving in the right direction,” Sackett insisted.
According to documents seen by AFP, one group of majorly oil-rich or fossil fuel reliant countries including Saudi Arabia, China, India, Venezuela, Iran, Kuwait and Qatar slammed initial draft as crossing “multiple red lines.”
Rejecting scientific evidence that links certain extreme weather events to climate change, the countries said the “shift” in approach could “destroy the good faith and the cooperation” put in place by the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit warming to 1.5 C.
“We know that there has been particular concern about compensation or liability in relation to loss and damage,” Bryce Rudyk, legal advisor to the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSISs), told AFP.
Some countries are also pushing to remove a commitment — already made by the signatories to the Paris Agreement — to “transition away” from the use of fossil fuels, according to documents reviewed by AFP……PACNEWS
B/VILLE – CYCLONE RESPONSE: ABG GOVT PACNEWS 2: Mon 20 Apr 2026
12 dead, 100,000 hit as Bougainville battles cyclone Maila devastation
BUKA, 20 APRIL 2026 (ABG GOVT)—Following two weeks of extensive damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Maila across Bougainville, the number of fatalities now stands at 12 and over 100, 000 people affected, whilst thousands more have been forced to leave their homes in search of safety and higher ground.
This is according to a situation report that was presented by the State of Emergency(SOE) Controller Kearneth Nanei.
Assessment teams have been on the ground collecting detailed information about the situation and needs, while simultaneously distributing food and relief supplies in identified hot spots.
“We know the needs are great and both the response and recovery will continue for some time. Teams are working round-the-clock to deliver assistance and coordinate the response,” Nanei said.
The SOE Controller stressed that the Command Centre is aware of those in heavily affected and hard-to-reach places, that are in need of assistance and are using every resource at their disposal to reach out as well as seeking additional resources from the PNG National Disaster Centre, and other private sector and bilateral partners.
In addition to locally procured food and relief items distributed by regional teams, the Central Command Centre has already delivered over 1000kg of rice, 100 water containers, 60 hygiene kits, and a range of essential drugs and medical supplies to regional hubs with the support of MAF.
“We also have large amounts of food and relief supplies pre-positioned in Buka and ready for distribution. We are, however, limited by available aircraft and boats. With additional capacity for transport by air and sea, we can accelerate distribution of these life-saving supplies,” he said.
Support has come from Papua New Guinea’s National Disaster Centre, Australia and New Zealand governments, and local leaders, highlighting the regional solidarity in the face of disaster.
Nanei acknowledged the support from stakeholders, agents and national leaders and requested their continued support throughout the full duration of the SOE.
“To all those who have already provided support to this operation, including NDC, and the Australian and New Zealand Governments, the Regional Member for Bougainville, the Open Members of North, South and Central, we thank you and request your continued support throughout the full duration of this response,” Nanei said.
Infrastructure repair is also underway in which the ABG Department of Infrastructure and Utilities has already made significant progress, working closely with the National Department of works and Highways and stakeholders, and work is currently in progress around Bougainville – including to create wet crossings across the Ramazon and Aita, conduct inlet clearance at Tsunpets Bridge, and restoring access for all feeder roads.
Plans have been developed for longer term repair and rehabilitation of key infrastructure that will be critical to restoring access and communications to isolated communities.
Teams from the Department of Health have also assessed damages at all health facilities and plans for reconstruction are in motion.
SOE Controller Kearneth Nanei emphasised the scale of the challenge, empahsising, “The needs are immense, and while we have made progress in delivering relief, recovery will take time. Our priority is to ensure no one is left behind.”
Coordination remains central to the response and Nanei urged communities to support the collective effort.
“We ask everyone to respect the coordination structures in place and allow unrestricted access for responders. This is a time for unity — government, partners, and communities must work together to rebuild,” Nanei said…..PACNEWS
COOKS – MEDIVAC/INSURANCE: COOK ISLANDS NEWS PACNEWS 2: Mon 20 Apr 2026
Migrant workers in Cook Islands call for better medical evacuation system, mandatory insurance
RAROTONGA, 20 APRIL 2026 (COOK ISLANDS NEWS)—The recent sudden passing of a migrant worker in the Cook Islands has sparked discussions, especially among expatriate communities, who are now calling for insurance coverage and clearer systems for medical evacuation during emergencies.
For many foreign workers far from their families, this tragedy is a stark reminder of how quickly circumstances can change and how uncertain access to urgent overseas medical care remains.
Leaders of several expatriate communities say the incident has forced them to confront tough questions about safety, financial protection, and support for migrant workers facing emergencies.
The tragedy involved an expatriate worker who was critically injured in a hit-and-run incident in Rarotonga last month.
The situation triggered criticism and calls for reform from migrant community leaders, with some questioning whether existing systems are adequate for non-New Zealand citizens living and working in the Cook Islands.
The government has since indicated that frameworks surrounding medical evacuations for foreign workers would be reviewed following the incident.
Budi Setiawan, President of the Indonesian community in the Cook Islands said the situation has become a serious wake-up call.
“It really is an eye-opener to us, too,” he said.
“We never know what the future brings.”
Setiawan said the incident has sparked discussions within the Indonesian community on how they might respond collectively if a similar situation ever affected one of their members.
With around 300 Indonesians living in the Cook Islands, including those in the Pa Enua, the community has begun examining possible contingency plans.
“We are trying to solve this issue among ourselves,” he said. “If something happens to us, what should we do as a community?”
Setiawan said the community has started thinking seriously about emergency options, including whether insurance coverage or employer contributions could help ensure injured workers could be referred home or to specialist hospitals overseas.
They have also considered asking the government to issue some kind of regulation.
He said news of the incident has been deeply unsettling for many Indonesians living and working across the country.
Setiawan said friends within the Filipino community, who had been closely following developments surrounding the injured worker, first brought the issue and the difficulties involved in arranging an overseas transfer to his attention.
Setiawan said for matters such as this, when it is urgent it is important to act swiftly, “we may be foreigners, but we pay tax, too.”
Foreign workers contribute significantly to the local workforce and economy, which Setiawan reiterated, and many expatriates simply hope they will receive fair treatment if they ever face a similar situation.
“We contribute to the Cook Islands community as well, and we are hoping to get the same treatment, at least,” he said.
The Cook Islands Fijian Association (CIFA) has raised similar concerns.
President Ravinesh Swamy believes the tragedy highlights the need for stronger financial protection for migrant workers across the country.
Swamy said one possible solution could be mandatory insurance coverage for foreign workers, funded through either employers, employment agencies or small contributions from workers themselves.
“If the government, immigration, and the people involved create an insurance policy for all foreign workers. If the companies can pay it or not, or if people coming from Fiji, for example, could also have their own insurance policies, that would be great.”
Swamy suggested that even a small contribution, such as a dollar deducted from workers’ wages, could help create an emergency fund to support workers facing serious medical situations.
“One dollar per pay goes in there, and if something critical happens, like what has happened recently, then at least the money is there,” he said.
“At the end of the day, money is involved.”
According to Swamy, the absence of a robust workers’ protection system has been a longstanding issue in the Cook Islands for many years.
He also believes the country should consider reviving a workers’ union similar to one that previously existed on the island more than a decade ago.
Without such protections, Swammy said migrant workers could feel vulnerable when serious accidents occur.
He added that foreign workers have no medical/ health security in the Cook Islands.
Meanwhile, a New Zealand-based aeromedical company is willing to help strengthen medical evacuation capabilities for Pacific island nations, including the Cook Islands.
Orion Aeromedical, working in partnership with NZ Jet, provides specialised aeromedical evacuation services across the region.
The company says it offers a fully coordinated system that manages the entire transfer process from the moment a call is received through to the patient’s arrival at a receiving hospital.
When contacted, the company said its mission coordinators manage everything from the initial fitness-to-fly assessment through to deploying the appropriate medical team and aircraft.
The partnership with NZ Jet provides access to specialised aircraft capable of long-distance medical transfers.
In some cases, teams can respond within as little as two hours after receiving a request, depending on the location and circumstances.
One of the key advantages highlighted by the company is the ability to fly directly between New Zealand and the Cook Islands without refuelling stops.
“One of the key advantages we bring is the ability to fly directly between New Zealand and the Cook Islands, whereas other services in the region may require a technical stop in Tonga. By avoiding this refuelling stop and potential layovers, we can reach patients sooner and provide a more direct return to definitive care,” Mathre Griffins, director of operations and development, said.
“For patients, particularly those who are critically unwell, fewer stops mean less handling, a more stable clinical environment, and a safer overall transfer to specialist hospital care.
“We have a large team of experienced clinicians who have completed medical repatriations through the Pacific region in both civilian and military settings, returning patients to NZ, Aus or to their country of origin”.
Using aircraft such as the Gulfstream G100 allows aeromedical teams to reach patients faster and transport them directly to specialist medical facilities.
For critically ill patients, avoiding additional stops can reduce the risks associated with transfers and provide a more stable clinical environment during the journey.
Hospitals, employers, insurers, families or the patients themselves, with Orion Aeromedical coordinating the clinical and operational aspects once the mission begins, can initiate evacuations.
While the cost of such evacuations can vary widely depending on the patient’s condition and destination, the company says its services are available to insurers, employers and private individuals.
For migrant community leaders, however, the key issue remains ensuring that funding and systems are already in place before emergencies happen.
Setiawan believes the tragedy has highlighted the importance of dialogue between government agencies, employers and expatriate communities to ensure better preparedness in the future.
“I mean, it’s complicated, but I think there needs to be some kind of dialogue between stakeholders here in the Cook Islands and also with the employer and the expat communities on how to deal when this kind of thing happens again in the future,” he said.
“This is about people’s lives, and it’s really tragic.”
Most foreign workers living and working far from home, deem the incident as a great lesson and a wake-up call, with Setiawan saying, “this is a lesson” with hopes for a better tomorrow……PACNEWS
FIJI – DIPLOMACY: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 2: Mon 20 Apr 2026
Fiji defends UN stance on Israel
JERUSALEM, 20 APRIL 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—Fiji’s Ambassador to Israel Jesoni Vitusagavulu says the country’s voting record at the United Nations is guided by principle, not pressure.
In an interview with The Jerusalem Post, Vitusagavulu said Fiji carefully assesses each resolution on its merits rather than aligning with majority positions.
“Fiji votes at the United Nations on principle. We’ve consistently been one of the few nations to stand up against one-sided, anti-Israel resolutions,” he said.
“We don’t just follow the crowd; we evaluate every measure on its merits. For us, it’s about fairness and sovereign equality.”
He said Fiji’s approach reflects a broader commitment to balanced diplomacy.
“We believe that isolating Israel through lopsided resolutions is counterproductive to peace, and we choose instead to be a consistent voice for balanced dialogue,” Vitusagavulu said.
The ambassador stressed that Fiji maintains an inclusive foreign policy stance.
“We are ‘friends to all.’ Fiji is transparent about its values, so our partners know exactly where we stand.”
He added that supporting Israel does not equate to opposing other nations.
“Supporting Israel doesn’t mean we’re ‘against’ anyone else… It’s not a blanket endorsement of another country’s policies,” he said, referencing remarks by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.
Vitusagavulu said Fiji aims to play a constructive role on the global stage.
“We believe that by keeping our doors open to everyone, Fiji can act as a moderate, honest voice for engagement in a very polarized world,” he said….PACNEWS
SOL – WEST PAPUA: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 2: Mon 20 Apr 2026
Solomon Islands Opposition leader calls for “Decisive action” on West Papua amid escalating violence
HONIARA, 20 APRIL 2026 (INDEPTH SOLOMONS)—Solomon Islands Opposition Leader Matthew Wale has called for urgent international action to compel Indonesia to open West Papua to independent scrutiny and accountability.
Wale made the call following the latest escalation of violence in West Papua with reports of a military attack on a refugee camp in Kembru, Puncak Regency and coordinated operations in Sinak and Pogoma Districts.
The Opposition Leader called on the international community, particularly the Pacific leaders to do more to put pressure on Indonesia to open West Papua to the eyes of the world.
He said the demand for a UN visit is needed.
“What further action will the region take since Indonesia has made it clear they have no intention of facilitating such a visit? We refuse to deal with Indonesia, to trade with them or sign bilateral agreements until the UN is allowed access?
“Will the MSG expel Indonesia for murdering Melanesians? I call for real action that Indonesia cannot ignore. While the world delays, West Papuans die,” the Member of Parliament for Aoke-Langalanga said.
He emphasised that the continued denial of access to the United Nations, independent observers and international media raises serious concerns about transparency and the protection of human rights in West Papua.
“Transparency is not optional. If there is nothing to hide then West Papua must be accessible to the world,” he said.
The Opposition Leader urged Pacific nations and the broader international community to move beyond statements of concern and take meaningful, coordinated steps to ensure accountability.
“The time has come for decisive action. Our region must stand firm in defence of human rights and ensure that the voices of the West Papuan people are heard,” he added.
He warned that continued inaction would only prolong suffering…..PACNEWS
PAC – GRADUATION: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 2: Mon 20 Apr 2026
Pacific resilience takes centre stage at USP graduation
SUVA, 20 APRIL 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) —Pacific resilience and regional leadership were centre stage as thousands of students graduated from The University of the South Pacific (USP) in Suva.
Held at the Vodafone Arena, the ceremony brought together graduates from across the Blue Pacific, highlighting USP’s role as a regional university owned by and serving twelve Pacific nations.
A total of 1259 graduates from science, technology, business, agriculture and technical education crossed the stage during the first of two graduation sessions.
Degrees and certificates were formally conferred by USP Chancellor, King Tupou VI of Tonga, in a ceremony blending academic tradition with Pacific cultural symbolism.
In his keynote address, Pro‑Chancellor and Chair of Council and Interim Management Group, Siosiua Tuitalukua Tupou Utoikamanu, framed the graduates’ achievements against a backdrop of growing global disruption.
“Such uncertainty is not new to Pacific’s peoples”.
Drawing on Pacific history, he reminded graduates that their ancestors navigated shifting winds, currents and stars, adapting rather than retreating.
Graduates, he said, are similarly equipped to adjust course and lead through change.
USP itself, he added, stands as a living example of Pacific cooperation—a university built across borders, cultures and oceans, preparing graduates not only with academic qualifications but with leadership grounded in service, humility and adaptability.
The Pro‑Chancellor also acknowledged families, sponsors and communities across the region, noting that success in the Pacific is never achieved alone.
As graduates move into professions across the region and beyond, they were urged to see their qualifications not simply as personal achievements, but as commitments to their people, their nations and the wider Pacific community….PACNEWS
UN – PEACEKEEPING: UN NEWS CENTRE PACNEWS 2: Mon 20 Apr 2026
UN chief strongly condemns killing of another peacekeeper in southern Lebanon
LEBANON/NEW YORK, 20 APRIL 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE)—A UN peacekeeper has been killed and three others injured after a UNIFIL patrol came under fire in southern Lebanon, the mission said on Saturday.
The incident occurred on Saturday morning local time as blue helmets were clearing explosive ordnance along a road in the village of Ghanduriyah to re-establish links with isolated UN positions.
The patrol came under small-arms fire from non-state actors.
“Tragically, one peacekeeper succumbed to his injuries and three others were injured, two of them seriously,” UNIFIL said in a statement.
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the attack and said in a statement issued late on Saturday that it was “presumed” Hezbollah militants were responsible.
“This is the third incident in recent weeks to have resulted in the deaths of peacekeepers serving with UNIFIL and occurred despite the announcement on 16 April of a 10-day cessation of hostilities. All actors are urged to respect the cessation of hostilities and the ceasefire,” the statement from his Spokesperson continued.
“Once again, the Secretary-General calls on all actors to uphold their obligations under international law and to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and the inviolability of UN property and assets at all times.”
Guterres said attacks on peacekeepers must stop and may amount to war crimes.
The wounded peacekeepers were taken to medical facilities for treatment.
UNIFIL expressed condolences to the family and colleagues of the fallen peacekeeper and wished a full and speedy recovery to those injured.
The mission condemned what it described as a “deliberate attack on peacekeepers engaged in their mandated tasks,” noting that explosive ordnance disposal work is critical in the area, particularly following recent hostilities.
UNIFIL said it has launched an investigation into the incident, with initial assessments indicating the fire came from non-state actors, “allegedly Hezbollah”.
The mission reiterated that all actors are obligated under international law to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property at all times.
“Deliberate attacks on peacekeepers are grave violations of international humanitarian law and of Security Council Resolution 1701, and may amount to war crimes,” the statement said.
UNIFIL also called on the Government of Lebanon to swiftly investigate the incident and hold those responsible accountable……PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
FIJI – IRAN CRISIS/FUEL: FIJI GOVT PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 20 Apr 2026
Fiji assured of continued fuel supply following engagement with suppliers in Singapore
SUVA/SINGAPORE, 20 APRIL 2026 (FIJI GOVT) —Fiji has received strong assurances on the continued and reliable supply of fuel following high-level meetings in Singapore between the Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Sakiasi Ditoka, and Fiji’s three primary fuel and petroleum product suppliers – Pacific Energy, ExxonMobil (Petro Oceania), and TotalEnergies.
Suppliers confirmed that fuel shipments to Fiji will proceed as scheduled, with no anticipated delays at this stage, and reaffirmed their commitment to honour existing contractual obligations.
TheMinister was advised that the Asia-Pacific region remains highly exposed, with around 80 percent of crude oil transiting through the Strait of Hormuz, contributing to ongoing global price volatility. While price pressures are expected to persist, suppliers emphasised that supply chains remain operational.
The suppliers also indicated their ability to source from alternative markets if required, strengthening supply resilience. Furthermore, they agreed to enhance coordination with the Government, including timely sharing of information and close collaboration to proactively manage any emerging risks.
Minister Ditoka noted that these assurances are critical not only for Fiji but also for the wider Pacific region, given Fiji’s role as a key fuel supply hub.
The Government will continue to actively monitor developments, strengthen engagement with international partners, and implement contingency measures to safeguard Fiji’s energy security in the weeks and months ahead….PACNEWS
PAC – LABOUR MEETING: FIJI GOVT PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 20 Apr 2026
Fiji to host inaugural Pacific labour meetings
SUVA, 20 APRIL 2026 (FIJI GOVT)– Cabinet has endorsed Fiji’s hosting of the inaugural Pacific Senior Labour Officials Meeting (SLOM) and Labour Ministers Meeting (LMM) from 11 -13 May 2026 in Nadi.
The meetings will operationalise the regional labour governance framework endorsed by Pacific partners and recognised under the Pacific Islands Forum architecture, strengthening cooperation on labour and employment across the region.
The meetings will bring together labour officials, Ministers, and tripartite partners to advance regional dialogue on key priorities, including labour mobility, workforce resilience, occupational health and safety, and the labour market impacts of climate change.
They will also support coordinated policy responses and reinforce the region’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable employment in line with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.
Hosting the inaugural meetings underscores Fiji’s leadership in regional labour governance and provides a platform to strengthen collaboration with regional and international partners, including the International Labour Organisation…..PACNEWS
PAC – FISHERIES: FFA PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 20 Apr 2026
Strengthening Food Safety for Pacific Seafood Exports
PORT MORESBY, 20 APRIL 2026 (FFA)—The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), through the Pacific–European Union Marine Partnership Programme (PEUMP), is currently facilitating Good Hygiene Training for Supervisors at Majestic Seafood in Papua New Guinea.
Running from 13–24 April 2026, the two-week training is helping supervisors strengthen their knowledge of food hygiene and sanitation standards required for international export markets, particularly the European Union.
Facilitated by FFA Market Access Consultant Timothy Numilengi, the training equips supervisors with the technical skills needed to ensure compliance within seafood processing operations and prepares them to train other workers as the company prepares to resume full production.
Participants say the training is helping them better understand hygiene requirements, correct past issues, and improve their practices moving forward.
As Majestic Seafood prepares to restart operations, these trained supervisors will play a key role in supporting compliance and mentoring new food handlers.
Through PEUMP, FFA continues to support Pacific fisheries to strengthen market access readiness and ensure seafood products meet international food safety standards…..PACNEWS
FIJI – ILLEGAL MINING: FBC NEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 20 Apr 2026
Plans to tighten penalties on illegal mining in Fiji
SUVA, 20 APRIL 2026 (FBC NEWS)—The Fiji government is moving to tighten penalties on illegal mining as environmental damage continues to raise concern.
Deputy Secretary for Lands and Mineral Resources Timoci Samisoni said planned law changes would close gaps that have allowed unlawful extraction to continue.
He said feedback from consultations points to growing frustration over weak enforcement.
There are also calls for stronger monitoring and clear accountability, with communities pushing for action.
“The public has demanded structure penalties for illegal extractions, increased compensation for environmental damages, and more visible monitoring by environment management units.”
Samisoni said the reforms will place environmental protection at the centre, with firm biodiversity safeguards and baseline standards.
He said to ensure landowners are well informed, they will mandate regular awareness and outreach programs to demonstrate their commitment to the process.
Pacific Community Geotechnical Adviser Gary Lee said mining policies must factor in long-term impacts to avoid lasting damage.
“So when you look at minerals broadly, like 83 percent around there of mineral production is actually non-metals. It’s like sand, gravel, limestone, things like concrete.”
The government is expected to carry out further consultations as it works to strengthen oversight and enforcement across the mining sector…..PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Why lower fertility does not have to mean economic decline
NEW YORK/GENEVA, 20 APRIL 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE) —Globally, most people say they want two or more children, but many are having only one, or none at all. According to a senior UN economist, fears of a demographic timebomb are unwarranted.
There’s no getting away from the fact that in many countries around the world, populations are ageing and fertility is declining.
The latest State of World Population report from the UN sexual and reproductive rights agency (UNFPA) shows that around one in five adults worldwide believe they will not be able to have the number of children they want, largely because of economic insecurity, inequality and lack of support.
But Michael Herrmann, an economist and demographer with UNFPA, cautions against panic. “Demographic change is not a crisis in itself,” he says. “It’s a reality we need to understand, plan for, and adapt to.”
Demographic resilience
Herrmann, who spoke on the sidelines of the Commission on Population and Development, which is meeting this week at UN Headquarters in New York, is advocating for a concept that is gaining attention: demographic resilience.
This means helping societies to anticipate population change, adapt their institutions and make better use of their human potential – an approach that is applicable to developing and wealthy countries, whether their populations are growing, shrinking, or ageing.
Some countries experience a “demographic dividend” when a growing working-age population boosts economic growth.
Others, further along the demographic transition, can benefit from a “second dividend” by investing in education, health, skills and technology to raise productivity.
Honey, shrunk the workforce
One of the most visible effects of ageing populations is a shrinking workforce. Many governments have responded by raising retirement ages, a response that Herrmann says is often too blunt an instrument.
Simply requiring everyone to work longer ignores the different capacities, preferences and life circumstances of older adults.
Some may want to keep working, albeit in part-time or less demanding roles. Offering more flexible options can help older workers stay engaged while easing pressure on pension systems.
Cash for kids?
As birth rates fall, some governments react with cash bonuses, tax breaks, or even official fertility targets. The evidence suggests these measures have limited and short-lived impact.
“One-off payments don’t change long-term decisions,” says Herrmann. At best, they may influence when people have children, not whether they do.
UNFPA’s new Youth Reproductive Choices Survey, now under way in 70 countries, takes a different approach: asking people directly why they are having fewer children than they want.
Early results highlight a mix of economic and social pressures. High housing and childcare costs, insecure employment and worries about the future – from political instability to climate change – all weigh heavily.
So do unequal gender roles, with women often bearing most unpaid care and domestic work burdens.
“These are not issues that can be solved with a cheque,” Herrmann says.
The right to choose
Policies driven by fear of population decline can also undermine rights, particularly for women.
Fertility targets and top-down directives sometimes come with harmful assumptions; for example, that women should stay home, that sex education should be curtailed, or that access to reproductive healthcare should be restricted.
A rights-based approach starts from a different question: what prevents people from having the children they want?
From there, governments can identify practical solutions, such as affordable housing, accessible childcare, parental leave for both parents, stable jobs and equal pay. Such policies support families without coercion.
Ageing does not mean decline
Ageing populations do pose real challenges, especially for pension systems and health. But they do not automatically spell economic decline.
Spending on health and long-term care also creates jobs, particularly in services rooted in local communities. Older people, meanwhile, contribute in many ways beyond paid work, from caring for family members to volunteering.
The bigger challenge, Herrmann argues, is a smaller labour force. Addressing it requires inclusion – in other words, bringing more women, migrants, young people and older workers into employment – alongside investments that raise productivity, such as education, skills, technology, and infrastructure.
Migration is not a quick fix
Migration is another powerful – and often misunderstood – demographic force.
In countries experiencing steep population decline, low birth rates are usually only part of the story.
High emigration plays a major role too. In parts of the Western Balkans, populations have fallen by 20 to 30 percent since the 1990s, largely because people left to seek work elsewhere.
By contrast, countries such as Germany have largely avoided population decline thanks to inward migration.
But migration is not a quick fix. Without language training, recognition of qualifications and pathways into work, many migrants remain excluded from the labour market to the detriment of both newcomers and host societies.
Listening instead of panicking
Ultimately, Herrmann’s vision of demographic resilience is grounded in listening.
If most people want two children but have fewer, the answer is not to pressure families, or panic. The solution involves understanding their realities and shaping policies that expand choice rather than limit it.
Get that right, he says, and demographic change becomes something societies can manage, with fairness, confidence and an eye on the long-term….PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Displacing the displaced: Two-Mile Hill and Port Moresby’s housing crisis
By Bradley Dare
PORT MORESBY, 20 APRIL 2026 (DEVPOLICY.ORG)—The dust may now have settled at Two-Mile Hill, but twelve hundred former residents of Port Moresby’s Rabiagini settlement remain homeless. They are the unfortunate victims of the latest of Papua New Guinea’s state-sponsored eviction campaigns. Forced to move into other crowded settlements scheduled for future demolition, they embody Port Moresby’s interlocking crises of housing insecurity, escalating violence and failing urban policy.
Urban squatter settlements are growing rapidly in the cities of Australia’s Melanesian neighbours. Across Noumea, Suva, Port Vila and Honiara, each is a testament to the region’s accelerating rural-urban migration. The issue is most pronounced in PNG’s capital Port Moresby — where over 50% of the city’s population now reside informally and illegally in sprawling squatter settlements. These agglomerations emerged in response to ongoing housing shortages and reconnect people who felt separated from friends and family when they reside in culturally unfamiliar Western-style suburbs. Communities recreated village structures on unoccupied stretches of state-owned land, wiring up their own (usually illicit) power connections and tapping into the city’s water. They were first called “self-help” settlements: as settlers had no choice but to help themselves establish basic services.
Now, settlements are a defining feature of Port Moresby. They are equally the primary target of National Capital District (NCD) Governor Powes Parkop’s urban policy. Political elites, the Royal PNG Constabulary and many others have long blamed settlements for Port Moresby’s manifold urban problems — from the deteriorating city water supply to carjacking. Traditional media and increasingly pervasive social media amplify this narrative. Settlements are often stereotyped as hotbeds of criminality and settlers, by association, as hordes of unwelcome criminals.
This rhetoric exacerbates existing settler marginalisation. While trustworthy quantitative data is scarce in PNG, qualitative markers strongly suggest Port Moresby residents face record unemployment. When a supermarket opened recently at 8-Mile, a large settlement in the city’s north, and advertised entry-level positions, owners were met by a queue of 3,000 hopefuls — many waiting more than 12 hours in the sun and without food, for the possibility of an interview.
Without income, settlers cannot secure loans necessary to access formal housing. They remain trapped in the settlements under the ever-present threat of violent eviction. Despite this insecurity, many settlements have grown into communities of thousands. My previous research combining satellite imagery analysis with ground-level interviews suggests 8-Mile, a settlement covering 250 hectares, houses around 25,000 people, many of whom have lived there for decades. Their houses are far from shanties, built not just to last but for children to inherit.
However, children growing up in a settlement cannot legally inherit this land. Instead, they will inherit housing insecurity. The informal (and often traditional) network of leases governing settlement housing are not accepted by PNG’s legal system. Despite official acknowledgement that customary land leasing is widely understood and accepted, the NCD recognises only those physically possessing land titles, which grow increasingly valuable. Land titles in a fast-growing city are sensible capital investments for corporations — particularly so when security is provided by the state. This dynamic has generated, and continues to generate, sporadic violent confrontations between settlers and officials executing evictions.
Typically, settlers receive 30 days’ notice before police, private security and bulldozers arrive to burn and level the settlements. This may be ordered pre-emptively by the NCD or at the behest of a land-title holder. This is what occurred in January and February 2026 at Two-Mile Hill (Rabiagini) and likely caused the contemporaneous attacks on police. Geospatial analysis of open-source aerial imagery and drone footage shows at least 150 dwellings over 8.8 hectares were destroyed in the Two-Mile Hill settlement. Those wishing to stay but having lost their homes have no recourse but to rebuild their lives in other settlements. Otherwise, they must uproot to villages far from the capital where government services may be limited or non-existent and opportunities for paid employment scarce.
Few choose to leave. Data from a recent study of 8-Mile demonstrated that mass evictions around a settlement increase housing density within its boundaries. Settlers do not move out of Port Moresby when evicted. They move further in.
As more settlements are slated for future demolition, the number of people displaced by evictions is likely to increase, causing the issue not only to persist, but worsen. Continuing to violently evict settled internal migrants without planning for their future residential or economic integration furthers the marginalisation of an already-marginalised group, inviting instability and further violence into PNG’s capital.
To avoid this future, NCD urban planners — and urban planners watching from across Melanesia — must engage with their settlers before eviction. Rural-urban migration cannot easily be halted nor reversed, and therefore a dialogue must be opened that acknowledges settler rights to secure housing and employment opportunities, whether in formal or informal economies (such as gardening). Steps have already been taken in this direction, such as Governor Parkop’s calls for settlement upgrades, but these statements mean little while settlements such as Two-Mile Hill continue to face demolition without sufficient planning for the future welfare or security of their displaced residents. …. PACNEWS
Bradley Dare is a researcher specialising in Melanesia. He is currently based in Australia.
