“We can’t survive on our own.”Virus-free, but vulnerableTourism helped Palau become one of the wealthiest Pacific island countries. Small, remote Pacific island nations such as Palau, a former U.S. trust territory, make up most of the list. As the virus began to spread, Pacific islands with limited medical infrastructure knew that if it hit, it would hit hard. In the Solomon Islands, lawmakers proposed banning Facebook to ensure “national unity.”Most Pacific islands cannot remain cut off indefinitely. Climate change remains an existential threat for many Pacific island nations.

Source: Washington Post December 18, 2020 12:00 UTC