Fijian diplomat calls for global action against drowning

SUVA, July 24 (Xinhua) — Drowning continues to be a critical issue for the Pacific island nation of Fiji, according to Permanent Mission of Fiji to the United Nations First Secretary Vueti May.
May made the remarks at a high-level forum side event focused on the impact of climate change on drowning risks, Fiji Broadcasting Corporation reported on Wednesday.
May emphasized the urgent need for increased global attention on drowning, which is the third leading cause of unintentional death in Fiji.
The diplomat highlighted the persistent rise in drowning incidents, calling for dedicated national, regional and international efforts to combat the growing threat.
“We have confirmed that 40 people in a particular year will die as a result of drowning if we’re not able to resolve this,” May said.
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), 90 percent of child drowning incidents occur in middle-income countries. ■