There are emerging concerns for the vulnerability of senior citizens in rural areas with non-communicable diseases, in particular diabetes. In 2008 it was measured at US$470 million, equal to around one third of overseas development assistance (ODA) allocated by those countries in that year. The remittance figure is also understated: money is frequently carried in person when traveling ‘home’. In Tonga and Samoa, remittances far exceed ODA receipts: in Samoa in 2008 remittance flows were US$135 million and ODA was US$39.5 million, in Tonga the figures were US$99.5 million and US$27.5 million, respectively.