Fiji calls for urgent climate action in wake of Cyclone Winston

Fiji has made a plea to the United Nations for urgent support to deal with the devastating effects of Cyclone Winston.

Peter Thomson, Fiji's Permanent Representative to the UN, told member states nearly half of the Pacific island’s population had been affected by the category five storm.

Addressing a briefing at the UN headquarters in New York, Mr Thomson said: "I'm asking you as representatives of your governments and organisations to go the extra yard on this occasion."

Thomson added: "I know we have so many disasters around the world all the time but this is the first time really Fiji's put up its hand and said we need international assistance… We cannot actually do this alone."

Mr Thomson urged nations not to issue travel warnings against visiting Fiji as the tourism industry is still functioning normally and has avoided the devastation caused to other parts of the country.

He also urged UN member states to ratify the Paris Agreement on climate change that was agreed in December, with an official signing ceremony due to take place in April.

The agreement is designed to limit greenhouse gas emissions and prevent dsangerous levels of global warming and will provide a framework to support for climate adaptation and mitigation projects in developing countries.

New Zealand's foreign minister Murray McCully visited Fiji on Monday to assess the long-term support that Fiji will need in wake of the cyclone.

Mr McCully said the loss of life and damage to property caused by the cyclone was almost unprecedented in the Pacific and New Zealand has committed US$2.1 million to the relief effort.

Australia is providing a further US$10.7 million in aid to Fiji that will be used for food, clean water, hygiene and shelter and will also send 16 medical professionals to join a team of six already working in Fiji.