27 Sep 2011

Solomon Islands main hospital to be relocated because of climate change

12:44 pm on 27 September 2011

The Solomon Islands Prime Minister Danny Philip has told the UN General Assembly preparations are underway to move the country's main hospital to higher ground because of climate change.

He called for the fast tracking of funds promised two years ago so that vulnerable countries can tackle the growing climate change challenge.

In a wide-ranging speech, Mr Philip also called for the United States to lift its economic blockade on Cuba and to extend observer status for Taiwan to more UN treaty bodies.

And he called for a stronger UN presence in Solomon Islands.

"We have an over regionalised UN system that have seen problems grow in the Pacific. Small as we are, three of our Pacific countries have undergone conflict in the last two decades and five out of the twelve are listed as least developed countries."

Danny Philip says Solomon Islands also wants a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for Small Islands Developing States.