Tate received his Vanuatu passport through the country’s controversial Development Support Program, which fast-tracks citizenship in exchange for a minimum investment of $130,000

“When we lose our land, we risk losing our lineage, our history, and the social structures that hold our communities together,” she said. “It puts at risk both our tangible and intangible heritage: our sacred sites, our oral histories, and the traditional knowledge and materials that define who we are.”

For years, CDC experts have been the backbone of our region’s public health response, providing hands-on guidance during outbreaks, training local health workers, and helping us conduct emergency preparedness exercises. In the Marshall Islands, this support was a lifeline.