CANBERRA, Australia, Apr 14 (IPS) – The World Bank lists Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu as Pacific Small Islands Developing States (PSIDS). . Some listings also include the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau. In September 2019, these countries had a combined population of 2.3 million spread over hundreds of islands spread over an area roughly equivalent to 15% of the surface area of the earth. Of these, the most populated country – Fiji – has a population of 900,000. The World Bank’s World Development Indicators reveal that annual per capita GDP of these islands fell from $4,340 in 2018 to $3,768 in 2020. It has probably fallen further during the pandemic.
Three Truths to Address Sexual Exploitation, Abuse & Harassment in the UN 
COP27 Fiddling as World Warms 
UN chief highlights crucial role of G20 in resolving global crises 
Somalia: Human rights chief decries steep rise in civilian casualties 
Ukraine: UN convoy delivers vital aid to residents of Kherson 
COP27: Week two opens with focus on water, women and more negotiations on ‘loss and damage’ 
A new treatment could restore some mobility in people paralyzed by strokes 
What has Perseverance found in two years on Mars? 
This robot automatically tucks its limbs to squeeze through spaces 
Greta Thunberg’s new book urges the world to take climate action now