Statement by Mr. Jeem Lippwe
Mr. Chair,
The Federated States of Micronesia is pleased to make this intervention relating to Agenda Item 18.2 on the resolution entitled – “Outcome of the SIDS Summit for Health: For a healthy and resilient future in small island developing States.”
Chair,
The special circumstances of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) is recognized and accepted by the international community as we are uniquely vulnerable. Our geographies mean that climate change and sea-level rise threaten our very survival. Our smallness, in size and our economies make us inherently susceptible to external economic and financial shocks. Our development achievements gain over many years can be wiped out at any time a disaster struck. And with the COVID-19 pandemic, we are witnessing another threat that has shaken the very foundation of our economies and causing a public health crisis in SIDS and globally.
Here at this 75th World Health Assembly the SIDS ask is simple, and is laid out in what I understand is the first ever SIDS resolution before this Assembly in conference document A75/A/CONF/1. We commend the resolution to the Assembly and appeal to delegations for their support for what we required as tailored solutions for SIDS. This includes other support measures like the (and I quote here directly from the draft resolution) “… proposed Voluntary Health Trust Fund for small island developing States to facilitate the participation of small island developing States in WHO meetings and to support technical and capacity-building in their favour on issues of direct relevance to their situation and encourage all States and partners to make voluntary contributions to the Voluntary Health Trust Fund for small island developing States”. (end of quote).
Finally, Mr. Chair, the Federated States of Micronesia requests its inclusion as a co-sponsor of the resolution.
Killisou Chapur and thank you, Chair.