Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No.1257/96 of 20 June 1996 concerning humanitarian aid, and in particular Article 2(f) and Article 15(2) thereof;

Whereas:

(1) The Pacific region is one of the most disaster-prone areas in the world, particularly exposed to natural disasters such as cyclones, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, tidal surges, landslides, flash floods, droughts, forest fires, volcano eruptions, as well as epidemics;

(2) Local communities are particularly

Since the first case in northern Morabe Province in July, more than 1,000 have been reported in the Pacific island nation, fuelled largely by poor sanitation practices and an acute lack of access to potable water.

According to the UN Development Programme (UNDP), approximately 58 percent of the country's six million-plus inhabitants do not have access to safe drinking water.

"It's spreading and the government

This latest outbreak of cholera follows earlier reported outbreaks in other areas of Papua New Guinea, including neighbouring Madang province.

Oxfam's Sepik Program Manager Andrew Rankin said new cases of cholera were being reported daily and it was important to respond quickly to the disease outbreak.

"Cholera spreads quickly, often

The Challenge of Our Time

1. Climate change is the predominant global challenge. We convened a Special Session on Climate Change in Port of Spain to discuss our profound concern about the undisputed threat that climate change poses to the security, prosperity, economic and social development of our people. For many it is deepening poverty and affecting the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. For some of us, it is an existential threat.

2. We reaffirm our commitment to the

This brief has been prepared for the UN Convention on Climate Change meeting in Copenhagen, December 2009, to raise awareness of the imminent impacts of climate change on food security in Pacific island countries and territories and to urge participants to consider the importance of mainstreaming food security in climate-related policies, strategies and programmes.

By providing a snapshot of the imminent impacts of climate change on food security in Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs), this report illustrates the need to mainstream

Papua New Guinea health authorities say a cholera outbreak has spread into East Sepik province from Madang province.

Five people are reported to have died.

PNG's first outbreak of cholera was detected in September in Morobe province.

It claimed nearly 80 lives before spreading to the neighbouring Eastern Highlands and Madang provinces, and appears to have now reached East Sepik.

Provincial Administrator Samson Torovi says five people have died while more than 90 others have been infected.

He says the Angoram District is worst

Today the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Health and Ageing met with Dr Margaret Chan, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Australia supports the WHO as the United Nations organization providing leadership on global health matters, shaping health research and setting international health standards.

Australia works closely with the WHO to improve health service delivery, address the health needs of women and children, and to reduce the burden of communicable diseases and the impacts

One month ago, during a single week in late September, the Asia Pacific region was rocked by four emergencies that disrupted the lives of nearly nine million people across the Philippines, Viet Nam, Samoa and Indonesia. Tens of thousands of Red Cross volunteers provided early warning, rescued those who were stranded, tended to the wounded, provided safe shelter and offered comfort and support during what were extremely challenging days. Their work is far from done.

With recovery from the devastating consequences