In 2003, the total evacuation of what island group was authorized and government funded by a Pacific nation, and why?

BRY2K

On November 25, 2003, the Papua New Guinean government authorized the government-funded total evacuation of the islands, 10 families at a time; the evacuation was expected to be completed by 2007, but access to funding caused numerous delays. In October 2007 it was announced that the PNG government would provide two million kina (USD $736,000) to begin the relocation, to be organized by Tulele Peisa of Buka, Bougainville. CNN has reported that the Carteret islanders will be the first island community in the world to undergo an organized relocation, in response to their island sinking. The people of the Carteret are being called the world's first environmental refugees. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carteret_Islands Apr 20 08, 3:29 PM