SUVA, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand is the first country that has contributed to Fiji's Climate Relocation and Displaced Peoples Trust Fund after visiting Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced a 2-million-Fijian dollar (900,000-U.S. dollar) contribution to it on Wednesday.
The contribution comes from the 150-million-Fijian dollar (67.7-million-U.S. dollar) package of Pacific-focused climate change assistance the New Zealand government had unveiled at the Pacific Islands Forum last August.
Speaking at the University of the South Pacific in Suva, capital of Fiji, Ardern said Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama had asked for a contribution to the Fiji Trust last year.
Ardern said the relocation of communities has already started in Fiji and five communities have been moved as a further 42 have applied for government support to move.
She said Fiji is on the frontline of the battle against climate change and it is important that New Zealand supports those who contributed the least to rising sea levels and extreme weather but were experiencing it the most to resettle their communities in safer places.
Praising the fund which is a world-first initiative, Ardern said it is a practical project that helps people already impacted by climate change that they want to ensure their assistance is targeted at.
Ardern, who arrived in Fiji on Monday night, is on a four-day visit to the island nation.
