With increasing global temperatures, rising sea levels and more frequent and intense extreme weather events, Pacific islands countries, especially those in warmer latitudes, are the most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. Their populations are expected to be among the first that will need to adapt to climate change or even abandon their traditional homeland and relocate. Unless we act now, climate change will constitute a major barrier to the achievement of sustainable development and viable food production goals for all Pacific

"The Forum regrets the damage and suffering caused by the four cyclones and hopes this contribution will assist with recovery efforts in the Cook Islands," Acting Forum Secretary General, Iosefa Maiava, said in a statement reaching here from Fiji Wednesday.

The Regional Natural Disaster Relief

Food crops have been damaged and the only school on the atoll of Nokonunu has been largely destroyed. Communications and power have been affected but initial reports indicate that the water supply on the atolls has been unaffected. There have been no reports of death and only one report of serious injury in Tokelau.

Cyclone Percy also hit Swain Island in

Australia will provide $100,000 to help the people of the Cook Islands recover from the recent devastation of Cyclone Olaf, the Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr Bruce Billson, announced today.

'Further Australian Government assistance will help restore essential services for locals and clear widespread cyclone debris after the destruction of the super cyclone last Friday,' Mr Billson said.

'The main island of Rarotonga was hardest hit by Cyclone Olaf, causing significant damage on the west coast to critical

"New Zealand received a request to assist on Saturday morning and NZAID, our international aid agency, has since been coordinating the FRANZ (France, Australia and New Zealand) response," Hobbs said in a statement.

"We are not responding to an emergency or humanitarian disaster, " but are assisting the Cook Islands with

United States President, George W. Bush, has declared an emergency in the area where homes were destroyed, roads wiped out and some crops flattened.

Although there were no casualties in the storm, several people, including a pregnant woman, were evacuated when flights resumed to the islands.

A US Coast Guard ship has delivered tents, generators, lanterns, water, first aid kits, and blankets to the islands.

Surging seas, heavy rain and strong winds caused some damage to houses and resorts along the west coast of the main island of Rarotonga, but there were no reports of casualties.

As Olaf headed south, forecasters began downgrading warnings which had been in place throughout much of the Pacific for a week.

Olaf was the third cyclone to hit the

FRANZ partners, Australia, France and New Zealand met several times this morning (19 February) in Wellington NZ to help coordinate emergency responses after a request for assistance from the Cook Islands Government.

Australia is providing an initial contribution of $30,000 for the provision of shelter for people whose homes have either

1. TROPICAL CYCLONE 19P (OLAF) WARNING NR 018
01 ACTIVE TROPICAL CYCLONE IN SOUTHPAC
MAX SUSTAINED WINDS BASED ON ONE-MINUTE AVERAGE

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WARNING POSITION:

180600Z5 --- NEAR 21.2S5 162.9W8
MOVEMENT PAST SIX HOURS - 140 DEGREES AT 20 KTS
POSITION ACCURATE TO WITHIN 040 NM
POSITION BASED ON EYE FIXED BY SATELLITE

PRESENT WIND DISTRIBUTION:

MAX SUSTAINED WINDS - 115 KT, GUSTS 140 KT

RADIUS OF 064 KT WINDS