Fiji Times, 2nd November 2018
FIJI is ranked as the 16 most at risk country to natural hazards in the UN World Risk Index.
Fiji is at risk to natural hazards such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, storms, floods, droughts and sea level rise and with climate change both the frequency and severity of those events are expected to increase.
New Zealand High Commissioner to Fiji Jonathan Curr highlighted this during the launch of the Fiji National Disaster Awareness Week at Sukuna Park in Suva yesterday. “Fiji is not alone here, with four other Pacific Island countries such as Vanuatu, Tonga, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea being in the top 10 most at risk countries,” he said.
“Every year in this region, we are reminded of the need for greater awareness of the destructive potential of disasters, and a renewed commitment to preparedness, in order to minimise the economic and social impact of these events to prevent loss of life and limb.”
He said the people of Fiji had demonstrated great resilience in the past, most notably in the response to and recovery from Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston in February 2016.