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<p><strong>In today’s bulletin:</strong><br>
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<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>WHO reviewing impact of US funding withdrawal amid COVID-19 pandemic</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">GENEVA, 16 APRIL 2020 - The head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday upheld the importance of international solidarity in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic: a “dangerous enemy” to all humanity.
<a href="https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/04/1061822" id="LPlnk860972">Read More.</a><br>
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<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Relaxing lockdowns without boosting care could lead to new COVID spike: WHO
</strong></p>
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<p style="text-align: justify;">GENEVA,16 APRIL 2020 (UN NEWS CENTRE)---As some European countries begin to relax lockdown measures following weeks of confinement introduced to halt the spread of the new coronavirus, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has
warned of a potential “second wave” of COVID-19 infections. <a href="https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/04/1061782">
Read More.</a></p>
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<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Australia’s landing ships could help the Pacific islands deal with Covid-19
</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><em>By David Brewster </em></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">CANBERRA, 16 APRIL 2020 - Australia’s political leaders have spoken strongly about assisting our Pacific ‘family’ through the Covid-19 crisis. But the needs of the island nations go far beyond medical supplies and expertise.
The Royal Australian Navy could play an important role in supporting critical infrastructure if the crisis hits the islands hard.<a href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/australias-landing-ships-could-help-the-pacific-islands-deal-with-covid-19/"> Read More.</a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong> </strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Bougainville not prepared to fight Covid-19 pandemic</strong></p>
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<p style="text-align: justify;">BUKA, 16 APRIL 2020 - The president of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, John Momis, has announced that the region is inadequately prepared to handle the Covid-19 outbreak.
<a href="https://postcourier.com.pg/bville-not-prepared-to-fight-covid-19-pandemic/">
Read More.</a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>COVID-19: Health team screens 121,000-plus Fijians in Suva confined area</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">SUVA, 16 APRIL 2020 - Fiji's Health Ministry’s fever clinic team has screened 121,304 Fijians within the greater Suva area so far as part of its COVID-19 containment efforts.
<a href="https://www.fijitimes.com/covid-19-health-team-screens-121000-plus-fijians-in-suva-confined-area/" id="LPlnk436067">
Read More.</a><br>
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<p style="text-align: justify;"><br>
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<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Pentecost in urgent need of assistance </strong>
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<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">PORT VILA, 16 APRIL 2020 (VANUATU DAILY POST) ---It has been a week since Tropical Cyclone Harold devastated the Northern parts of Vanuatu and people from Pentecost island are still waiting for the government to respond.
<a href="https://dailypost.vu/news/pentecost-in-urgent-need-of-assistance/article_dfbd663a-7e9d-11ea-97d1-774f7dd60018.html" id="LPlnk15931">
Read More.</a><br>
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<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Solomon Islands Police steps up security at SI-PNG common border region
</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">HONIARA, 16 APRIL 2020 (SOLOMON STAR)---The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) and other law enforcement agencies are increasing their presence at the Solomon Islands – Papua New Guinea common border region from the Shortland
Islands, Choiseul Province and the Malaita Outer Islands with the arrival of the patrol boat Gizo in the western border region carrying more police, Immigration, Customs and Health Officers. <a href="https://www.solomontimes.com/news/police-steps-up-security-at-solomon-islands--png-border/9729" id="LPlnk835428">Read
More.</a><br>
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em> </em></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Peace and the pandemic: the impact of COVID-19 on conflict in Asia</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><em>Written by Adam Burke </em></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">SYDNEY 16 APRIL 2020 - Disasters and crises – floods, earthquakes, wars, and of course pandemics – shine an unforgiving light on society’s problems and tensions. As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads across conflict zones, the impact
will be unpredictable and potentially catastrophic. These areas are typically inaccessible and dangerous, politically complex, and often beyond the reach of the state.
<a href="https://asiafoundation.org/2020/04/15/peace-and-the-pandemic-the-impact-of-covid-19-on-conflict-in-asia/" id="LPlnk360149">
Read More.</a><br>
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<p style="text-align: justify;"> Blessed Evening!<br>
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<p style="text-align: justify;"><br>
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<p style="text-align: justify;">Solo<br>
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<div style="color:rgb(0,0,0); margin:0px"><font face="Calibri,sans-serif" size="2"><span style="font-size:11pt"><font face="Arial,sans-serif" color="#1F497D">Public Relations & Communications Officer</font></span></font></div>
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<div style="color:rgb(0,0,0); margin:0px"><font face="Calibri,sans-serif" size="2"><span style="font-size:11pt"><font face="Arial,sans-serif" color="#1F497D">Pacific Disability Forum</font></span></font></div>
<div style="color:rgb(0,0,0); margin:0px"><font face="Calibri,sans-serif" size="2"><span style="font-size:11pt"><font face="Arial,sans-serif" color="#1F497D">Ground Floor, Kadavu House, Victoria Parade | GPO Box 18458 | Suva, Fiji</font></span></font></div>
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<div style="color:rgb(0,0,0); margin:0px"><font face="Calibri,sans-serif" size="2"><span style="font-size:11pt"><font face="Arial,sans-serif" color="#1F497D">Phone: (+679) 3312008 | (+679) 3307530</font></span></font></div>
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<div style="margin:0px"><font face="Calibri,sans-serif" size="2" style=""><span style="font-size:11pt"><font face="Arial,sans-serif" style=""><font color="#000000">Email:</font><font color="#006fc9"> <u style="">infor</u></font></font><a href="mailto:ceo@pacificdisability.org" target="_blank" style=""><font face="Arial,sans-serif" style=""><font color="#006fc9">@pacificdisability.org</font></font></a><font face="Arial,sans-serif" color="#000000"></font></span></font></div>
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