(Vimeo: UN University) – In December 2008, the low-lying Carterets Islands were badly damaged by king tides and violent storm surges. Nicholas Hakata, a local youth leader and community representative, explains that he and his family have been surviving on mainly fish and coconuts, and battling the swamp mosquitoes that have brought malaria.

With the local government’s food aid ship coming once or twice a year, the relocation plans are equally as slow. Hungry and unwell, the islanders have set up a relocation team and have begun a series of urgent tasks to move families closer to security.

Below is a video by the UN University which highlights this story:

Source: UN Univeristy Channel on Vimeo

Related Links:
» Carteret Islanders – First Climate Refugees – Solomon Times
» Climate refugees in Pacific flee rising sea – The Washington Times
» Climate change displacement has begun – but hardly anyone has noticed – George Monbiot’s Blog