The Pacific Islands Forum countries have triggered their main security declaration as the region faces the coronavirus pandemic.
The region's foreign ministers will meet, via digital means, on Tuesday to discuss a proposed regional response.
So far, only six of the forum's 18 member states have confirmed cases of Covid-19 - Fiji, Papua New Guinea, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Australia and New Zealand.
In a letter to forum leaders, Samoa's prime minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said the pandemic would test the very mettle of the region's nations beyond their limits.
Likely to be discussed is a mechanism to ease the coordination of supplies and assistance to countries.
The forum's secretary general, Dame Meg Taylor, said if ever there was a time for regional solidarity, then it's now.
The secretary general of the Pacific Islands Forum, Dame Meg Taylor. Photo: RNZ / Jamie Tahana
