He expressed concern about Kiribati’s future to a Climate Change and Human Rights meeting in Australia earlier this month.
“Sea level rising is having a dire effect and could force the 90,000 plus population to migrate as their country is disappearing beneath sea level,” he said in an interview this week.
Rimon said according to scientific reports, Kiribati is in the countdown period and may have half a century to go. “Our days are numbered,” he warned.
He is calling for assistance to survive and echoed a call for a limitation in greenhouse gas emissions.
To underline his comments earlier this month Rawannawi village in Marakei Island was hit by huge tidal waves, washing away houses, knocking down trees and destroying drinking water wells.
More than $70,000 worth of damage was reported, not counting damage caused to seawalls, an ice plant and a primary school classroom.
The Red Cross had to disperse emergency lights, sleeping gear and other necessities to those most hit by the waves.
In Port Betio, two local ships were washed ashore, and a coconut tree fell on top a sleeping house, but there were no injuries.
