North Korea says it is experiencing its coldest winter on record, raising fears of worsening food shortages and famine.

The country's central newsagency says the average daily maximum for this month was minus five degrees Celsius, while Pyongyang hit a low of minus 18C.

It is the first time since records began in 1945 that temperatures have stayed below freezing for a whole month.

Pyongyang says the freezing winter will delay preparations for the spring planting, raising fears of disease outbreaks

A huge mass of water is making its way towards Swan Hill, swamping smaller communities on the way.

Several communities including Pental Island and Fish Point have been on high alert for days while they wait for the waters to rise.

SES spokesman Lachlan Quick says it is a frustrating wait for some of the communities.

"We are dealing with an unprecedented flood surge and that's what we're seeing," he said.

Thousands of people in Vanuatu face the immediate threat of hunger and a lack of safe drinking water, two weeks after Cyclone Vania struck causing widespread damage.

UNICEF says an estimated sixteen thousand people could be affected.

A joint assessment by the government, UNICEF and partners reveals just how devastating the situation is.

Most crops have been destroyed and many families face a difficult six months without adequate food or incomes.

Presenter: Geraldine Coutts

Speaker: Hamish Weatherly, UNICEF Pacific's

People in the cyclone hit Tafea Province in southern Vanuatu are going to get assistance from the government until their food gardens are back up and running.

Cyclone Vania swept through the area last week, and a damage assessment team from the capital, Port Vila has just returned after seeing the effects first hand.

Peter Korisi, from Vanuatu's National Disaster Management Office, says all 32 thousand people in the province have been affected, but fortunately no one seems to have been hurt or killed.

Presenter: Bruce Hill

Evacuation alerts have been issued for several smaller communities, which could be isolated for days.

The floodwaters are moving between Kerang and Swan Hill, with residents of communities, including Murrabit West, Benjeroop and Pental Island, advised to evacuate.

In Murrabit, locals say up to 1.5 metres of water has inundated several homes in the area.

Volunteers are helping residents consolidate rural levees and build new ones to protect houses, but several levees have

Victorians are being warned that a massive moving inland sea is expected to threaten towns in the state's north and north-west for up to 10 more days.

Floodwaters are now heading for the Murray River town of Swan Hill, which is bracing to be hit sometime today.

The peak is expected to last through the weekend.

The state's flood crisis is about to enter its third week and according to authorities it still has a long way to go.

It is estimated the moving inland sea is 90 kilometres long and 40 kilometres wide.

Communities in Victoria's north including

People living on the cyclone damaged Vanuatu island of Tanna may be facing some food shortages in the coming three months.

That's according to Marc Tabani, from the Tafea Cultural Centre on the island, who was there as Cyclone Vania struck southern Vanuatu last week.

He says food gardens have been damaged, and although people have already planted quick growing root crops like kumara and potatoes, it will be three months before they can be harvested.

He says the cyclone didn't bring particularly

Health officials say people should try to avoid touching the water and disinfect their skin if they come into contact with it.

Locals have been urged to make sure their drinking water is safe to use and to boil water for three minutes if they are not sure.

Many towns were without power for several days and residents have been urged to throw out any food that might have spoiled.

Walking through floodwater is also risky

Fiji's Health Ministry is urging people during the wet season to take precautions against disease.

Heavy rain last week has caused some flash floods in Ba and Rakiraki in the country's Western division.

National Emergency Health Coordinator, Semi Masilomani describes the health risks those affected by flash floods and cyclones could be facing over the next few months.

Presenter: Christine Webster

Speaker: Fiji National Emergency Health Coordinator, Semi Masilomani