Date Time Small Island Developing State leaders join FAO Director-General to explore pathways to resilience 10 December 2020, Brussels/Rome – The world’s Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face special food-security strains due to climate change, rising oceans, and high reliance on food imports and tourism, which have declined sharply due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaders of island states said at a dialogue organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). FAO Director-General QU Dongyu noted that the SIDS faced unique vulnerabilities and challenges, which have been further aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Also speaking at the “FAO Brussels Dialogue on weathering COVID-19 in Small Island Developing States: A pathway to resilience” were Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana; Chandrikapersad Santokhi, President of the Republic of Suriname; Tommy Esang Remengesau Jr., President of the Republic of Palau; Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi, Prime Minister of the Independent State of Samoa; Jorge Lopes Bom Jesus, Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe; and Josaia Vorege Bainimarama, Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji.