Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama told the world leaders at the COP21 meeting underway in Paris that Fiji has already started the process of relocation.

Fiji has begun the process of relocating 45 communities while 830 communities have been identified to be at risk.

Bainimarama says the European Union is assisting the government to map the entire nation to determine accurately which areas are expected to be lost from the effects of climate change.

The Prime Minister told the leaders that Fiji is beginning to plan for a scenario in which the country gives refuge to the citizens of neighboring island nations.

“Fiji is also willing to provide a permanent home to the entire populations of Kiribati and Tuvalu – our two closest neighbours. We will obviously need the assistance of the world to undertake the massive task of relocating people to Fiji and providing them with the additional infrastructure they need. But we have made this offer to our fellow Pacific islanders with open hearts because we understand how vulnerable they must feel.”

Bainimarama informed COP21 that Kiribati has already purchased 20 square kilometers of farmland on Vanua Levu, to guarantee the food security of its people.

Bainimarama has requested the assistance of the world to undertake the massive task of relocating people to Fiji and providing them with additional infrastructure they need.

The Prime Minister has urged all nations to work with Fiji on an initiative that’s being undertaken to examine the legal implications of climate change- such as climate change refugees and the loss of territories.