Vanuatu is susceptible to a variety of both
hydrometeorological and geophysical disasters due
to its location in the South Pacific tropical cyclone
basin and the Pacific Ring of Fire./// Hydrometeorological
hazards include tropical cyclones, floods, and droughts,
whereas geophysical hazards include volcanoes,
earthquakes, and resulting tsunamis and landslides.
///Sixty-three percent of recorded disasters in Vanuatu
have occurred in the provinces of Malampa and
Torba, where over a quarter of the population
The Republic of the Marshall Islands is expected to incur,
on average, 3 million USD per year in losses due to
earthquakes and tropical cyclones. In the next 50 years,
the Republic of the Marshall Islands has a 50% chance
of experiencing a loss exceeding 53 million USD and
casualties larger than 50 people, and a 10% chance
of experiencing a loss exceeding 160 million USD and
casualties larger than 150 people.
Timor-Leste is expected to incur, on average, 5.9 million
USD per year in losses due to earthquakes and tropical
cyclones. In the next 50 years, Timor-Leste has a 50%
chance of experiencing a loss exceeding 88 million USD
and casualties larger than 300 people, and a 10% chance
of experiencing a loss exceeding 530 million USD and
casualties larger than 2,100 people.
Palau is expected to incur, on average, 2.7 million USD
per year in losses due to earthquakes and tropical
cyclones. In the next 50 years, Palau has a 50% chance
of experiencing a loss exceeding 30 million USD and
casualties larger than 45 people, and a 10% chance
of experiencing a loss exceeding 247 million USD and
casualties larger than 175 people.
Fiji is expected to incur, on average, 79 million USD per
year in losses due to earthquakes and tropical cyclones. In
the next 50 years, Fiji has a 50% chance of experiencing a
loss exceeding 750 million USD and casualties larger than
1,200 people, and a 10% chance of experiencing a loss
exceeding 1.5 billion USD and casualties larger than 2,100
people.
Vanuatu is expected to incur, on average, 48 million
USD per year in losses due to earthquakes and tropical
cyclones. In the next 50 years, Vanuatu has a 50% chance
of experiencing a loss exceeding 330 million USD and
casualties larger than 725 people, and a 10% chance
of experiencing a loss exceeding 540 million USD and
casualties larger than 2,150 people.
Nauru is expected to incur, on average, less than 2
thousand USD per year in losses due to earthquakes
and tropical cyclones. In the next 50 years, Nauru has a
50% chance of experiencing no economic losses and
no casualties, and a 10% chance of experiencing a loss
exceeding 0.2 million USD and no casualties.
Pacific Island Countries (PICs) face many common challenges in their efforts to utilize disaster risk financing instruments.
The Pacific Disaster Risk Financing and Insurance (DRFI) Program under the Pacific Catastrophe Risk Assessment and Financing Initiative (PCRAFI) has generated discussion at a regional level in order to help countries address their common challenges.
Based on that discussion, the following recommendations have been developed for consideration. 1.) Develop an integrated disaster risk
financing and insurance strategy.
No abstract Contributing to the third phase of the Pacific
Catastrophe Risk Assessment and Financing
Initiative (PCRAFI), this project is supported by
the Pacific-Australia Climate Change Science
and Adaptation Planning (PACCSAP) Program
with co-financing from the Global Fund for
Disaster Risk Reduction. The primary goal of the
project is to improve understanding of the risks
posed by tropical cyclone hazards (winds,
floods, and storm surge) to key assets in the
Pacific region, under current and future climate
Niue is expected to incur, on average, 0.9 million USD per
year in losses due to earthquakes and tropical cyclones. In
the next 50 years, Niue has a 50% chance of experiencing
a loss exceeding 15 million USD and casualties larger
than 20 people, and a 10% chance of experiencing a loss
exceeding 60 million USD and casualties larger than 25
people.
Papua New Guinea is expected to incur, on average, 85
million USD per year in losses due to earthquakes and
tropical cyclones. In the next 50 years, Papua New Guinea
has a 50% chance of experiencing a loss exceeding 700
million USD and casualties larger than 4,900 people, and
a 10% chance of experiencing a loss exceeding 1.4 billion
USD and casualties larger than 11,500 people.
Tonga is expected to incur, on average, 15.5 million
USD per year in losses due to earthquakes and tropical
cyclones. In the next 50 years, Tonga has a 50% chance
of experiencing a loss exceeding 175 million USD and
casualties larger than 440 people, and a 10% chance
of experiencing a loss exceeding 430 million USD and
casualties larger than 1,700 people.
In 2012 Tropical Cyclone (TC) Evan offered a
distressing reminder of Samoa’s exposure to natural
hazards. TC Evan came only three years after the
earthquake and tsunami of 2009, which affected
2.5 percent of the country’s population, causing
143 fatalities and associated economic losses
equivalent to 20 percent of gross domestic product
(GDP).
///The economic growth of Samoa has been
impacted in the past few years by two major
disasters: the tsunami in 2009 and TC Evan
in 2012./// Growth was also impacted by the global
Kiribati is expected to incur, on average, about 0.3
million USD per year in losses due to earthquakes and
tropical cyclones. In the next 50 years, Kiribati has a 50%
chance of experiencing a loss exceeding 1 million USD
and casualties larger than 10 people, and a 10% chance
of experiencing a loss exceeding 40 million USD and
asualties larger than 200 people.
The Solomon Islands are expected to incur, on average,
20.5 million USD per year in losses due to earthquakes
and tropical cyclones. In the next 50 years, the Solomon
Islands have a 50% chance of experiencing a loss
exceeding 240 million USD and casualties larger than
1,650 people, and a 10% chance of experiencing a loss
exceeding 527 million USD and casualties larger than
4,600 people.
The Cook Islands are expected to incur, on average, about
5 million USD per year in losses due to earthquakes and
tropical cyclones. In the next 50 years, the Cook Islands
have a 50% chance of experiencing a loss exceeding 75
million USD and casualties larger than 130 people, and a
10% chance of experiencing a loss exceeding 270 million
USD and casualties larger than 200 people.
The Cook Islands is composed of 15 islands,
spread across nearly 2 million km2 of
territorial waters. The geographic spread of the
Cook Islands poses logistical problems for any
necessary post-disaster relief and response efforts.
The 2011 census estimated the resident population
of the Cook Islands at approximately 14,974
people, with a further 2,820 temporary residents.
Approximately three-quarters of the population
lived in Rarotonga. The geographic spread of
the population makes initial disaster response to
Air photo survey of coastal erosion sites, outer islands, Gilbert Group, Kiribati, April 1993
Air photo survey of coastal areas, Upolu and Savaii, Western Samoa, February 1992
Preliminary coastal morphology maps, Tarawa, Kiribati 1988