Trade negotiations between Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Pacific leaders at the Pacific Islands Forum in Cairns this week must not plunge Pacific people already hit by the economic crisis, food crisis and climate change further into poverty, says leading international aid agency Oxfam.

With overall growth in the Pacific expected to slow, and falls in tourism, remittances and exports resulting from the global financial crisis likely to hit hard, any new trade arrangements

1.The Leaders of Japan and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) countries met for the Fifth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM) (hereinafter referred to as "PALM 5") from 22 to 23 May 2009 in Hokkaido, Japan. The Leaders and representatives of Japan, Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu were in attendance. The Meeting was co-chaired by the Prime Minister of Japan, H.E. Taro Aso,

Comprising 45 countries in South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, the region is home to more than half of the world's population, the majority of whom are poor and among the most disadvantaged in the world. Some 600 million women, men and children in the region live below the USD 1 a day poverty line, while 1.8 billion survive on less than USD 2 a day. Compounding the situation, the region is also highly disaster-prone. The diversity, scale and frequency of natural disasters in the region are daunting. Set along numerous fault lines, many

CARE will continue to support the villagers in their efforts to recover from the impact of the landslide.

While the immediate needs are being addressed the long term effects of the disaster also require urgent attention. The rehabilitation of the affected areas are expected to continue for months.

Reports from Gera suggest that continuing support for the villagers is required for 2 to 3 months, depending when

Major towns in Papua New Guinea's highlands are struggling to get supplies and fuel after a landslide cut off a road linking three provinces.

For major hospitals in the highlands region say the situation is drastic.

At Mount Hagen General Hospital in the Westland Highlands, all non-critical operations have been put on hold due to the lack of oxygen.

Hospital management described the situation as critical and said the landslide meant a shortage of drugs and generator fuel was imminent.

The BOC gas depot in Hagen supplies oxygen