NGOs

The key objectives of the meeting were to inform Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) of the latest developments on the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) and development of the Recovery Plan for TC Harold and COVID-19, and inform NGOs about the Vanuatu Civil Society Organizations Support and Technical Cooperation Facility (CSOTCF) which is being funded by the European Union (EU).

RNZI reports the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon has convened the first World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul as part of his call for humanity to be placed at the heart of global decision-making.

The Executive Director of PIANGO, Emele Duituturaga, is among civil society groups attending from the Pacific.

John Key is attending the Forum leaders meeting in Port Moresby.

The meeting was preceded by declarations by Small Islands States, NGOs and Fiji's Pacific Islands Development Forum calling for greater action including no more than a 1.5 degree rise in global temperature above pre-industrial levels.

Developed nations have traditionally looked at two degrees as a more realistic target.

Key says he is happy with the work New Zealand has done to fight climate change.

That's how the people of Tuvalu feel.

It's predicted the Island nation, the smallest archipelago in the Pacific, could be underwater in the next 30 to 50 years due to rising sea levels.

Tuvalese leaders spoke of their plight at a breakfast event in Mangere last week as part of a Climate Change Tour hosted by NZ NGOs including Tear Fund and Oxfam. The tour aims to create awareness around the effect climate change is having on our pacific neighbours, and continues in Christchurch and Wellington this week.

Government and NGO listings of individuals and families requesting relief are now in the thousands and continue to grow as more people come forward to seek help.

Our correspondent in the CNMI Mark Rabago says the demand for aid has raised tensions, with the Red Cross forced to shut its office by police on Wednesday after fights broke out among people seeking aid.

He says the situation is now calm but but authorities are still struggling to get aid to the people who need it the most.