Topic: Assistance for Nations Facing Total Territory Loss
Country: Portugal
Delegate Name: Magda Hlavacek
School: Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Portugal position papers GLIMUN 2011 committees
Total territory loss greatly concerns the nation of Portugal. An example of this that is of special concern to Portugal is territory loss due to flooding. Portugal is a coastal nation, and many of its highly populated regions are near coastlines. Flooding of these areas due to rising sea levels and erosion of coastlines could displace significant amounts of people. Flooding has become an increasing problem lately due to rising sea levels. Glacial melting due to rising global is causing sea levels to rise, leading to loss of territory. The situation in Tuvalu shows that territory loss due to rising sea levels is a real problem that can have a profound effect on nations.
The country of Portugal believes that nations should assist in the relocation of people displaced due to territory loss. This assistance could include accepting to refugees to the best of a nation’s ability. Portugal is willing to assist nations experiencing territory loss, such as Tuvalu, but might need to receive assistance for similar reasons in the future.
The nation of Portugal would like to suggest that some international development aid be set aside for countries that have a high risk of experiencing total territory loss to be used in building structures that could prevent territory loss. For example, countries with flooding as a risk could use some funds to build structures of flood barriers or improve on already existing ones. Many already existing flood barriers would not be useful in the future if sea levels continue rising.
