Red Cross Pacific leaders meet to discuss climate challenges

Suva: To mitigate the challenges of climate change and disaster risk, the delegates of 14 Red Cross Societies across the Pacific region and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) gathered here on Monday.

The Fiji Red Cross Society together with the International Federation of Red Cross today traditionally welcomed delegates from the 14 Red Cross societies across the Pacific Region.

These delegates are part of the 7th Red Cross Pacific leaders meeting that is currently underway at the Holiday Inn in Suva.

Fiji Red Cross President Sala Toganivalu said the primary focus of this meeting will be dialogue to find ways to tackle issues that Red Cross national societies face in the region including the climate crisis, poor health outcomes, and pervasive social issues such as inequality and gender-based violence, local media reported.

Toganivalu said more discussions are expected in this meeting, which will conclude on Friday.

The meeting will also reflect ways in which national societies have begun to implement the IFRC Strategy 2030 and Agenda for Renewal in the region and lessons learned from responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.