Kiribati buys 6000 acres of land in Vanua Levu

By fijivillage.com

Monday 08/07/2013

The Acting Prime Minister and Attorney General says Kiribati has bought 6000 acres of land in Vanua Levu to guarantee its food security as its own arable land is swamped by rising tides.

Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum made these comments while speaking during the first regional joint meeting of the Pacific Platform for Disaster Risk Management and the Pacific Climate Change Roundtable in Nadi's Sofitel, Fiji Resort and Spa.

He said countries like Tuvalu and Kiribati are at risk as ice caps melt sea levels to unprecedented heights.

Earlier this year Kiribati President Anote Tong told ABC that the land in Vanua Levu will be used to plant food crops, not to relocate Kiribati residents.

Sayed-Khaiyum said some of these countries are already preparing for a doomsday scenario in which their islands are eventually submerged and their populations have to be moved to higher ground elsewhere.

He has called on other leaders present in the meeting to work together with other nations to exert influence in global forums such as the United Nations to try to focus attention on the need for immediate action to radically reduce emissions.

Story by: Ronal Deo

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