- Introduction
Pacific island communities are exposed to a wide range of natural disasters, including cyclones, floods, landslides, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis, as well as to the adverse effects of climate change such as coastal erosion, saltwater intrusion into farmland and fresh water sources.
While we know that natural disasters and climate change are causing forced internal displacement across the Pacific, there is no systematic collection of data on displaced persons or sustained monitoring of their situation and recovery. The lack of reliable information about the numbers of people displaced and their human rights concerns leads to inadequate preparedness and planning measures being undertaken to assist and protect the displaced. This results in failures to protect, once displacement occurs.
Global experience indicates that persons displaced by natural disasters are particularly vulnerable to threats to security and physical integrity, loss of contact with children and family members, inadequate and insecure shelter, discrimination in aid distribution, psycho-social stress and sexual and gender-based violence. As time passes, other challenges arise, for example the impact of the loss of personal documentation, hampered access to health, adequate food, water and sanitation, education, employment or public services; the absence of access to basic services; issues of housing, land and property; and unsafe or involuntary return, local integration or relocation.
Natural disasters in the Pacific are typically seasonal and recurrent. In absolute terms, the number of people affected is small; however, given the size of the countries, even minor damage can have a large social and economic impact on enjoyment of human rights. It is therefore important to consider the impact of natural disasters in Pacific countries according to a Pacific scale.