Attachments
AT A GLANCE
Countries Pacific Island Countries (PICs): Fiji, Samoa, Tuvalu, Vanuatu
Risks Tropical Storms, droughts, floods, storm surges, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, sea level rise
Areas of engagement Deepening engagements in resilience to climate change, Enabling resilient recovery
CONTEXT
Losses from disaster shocks are felt across Pacific Islands. Pacific Island Countries (PIC) such as Fiji, Samoa, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu have been repeatedly hit by tropical cyclones, each time incurring significant losses. For example, Vanuatu alone is estimated to incur an average of $48 million of losses per year due to earthquakes and tropical storms, which represents approximately 6.6% of its GDP. In Tuvalu, 45% of the population were displaced in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Pam which hit in 2015.
Given the common challenges that PICs face in the increasing variability of impacts from climate-related hazards, governments in the region are looking to strengthen and harmonize policies, strategies, and regulations for effective disaster risk management (DRM) and climate change adaptation (CCA). Challenges remain in strengthening national policy and regulatory frameworks and in effectively coordinating these efforts. The Africa Caribbean Pacific – European Union Natural Disaster Risk Reduction (ACPEU NDRR) Program has been solicited by the governments of Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu and Tuvalu to help strengthen and coordinate these national frameworks. The ACP-EU NDRR Program is an initiative of the ACP Group of States, funded by the EU and managed by the Global Facility for Disaster reduction and Recovery (GFDRR).