Pacific Island Nations Urged to Enhance Protection Measures Against Increasing Cyclone Activity, Says World Bank
 |
Funafuti Atoll in the South Pacific (Photo: TTO) |
The World Bank (WB) has stated that Pacific island nations need to take immediate action to minimize the impact of cyclones and other natural disasters such as droughts and tsunamis. In a recommendation made on February 2, the WB emphasized that donor countries should encourage these islands to be more proactive in disaster preparedness rather than waiting for external assistance after disasters strike.
According to Alf Simpson, a World Bank specialist, these island nations must improve their disaster management strategies within their economic programs and investment plans to attract funding from international organizations and communities. The WB highlighted that Pacific islands are among the most vulnerable territories in the world when it comes to natural disasters.
Despite having a relatively low population density, natural disasters have directly affected the lives of over 3.4 million people and resulted in more than 1,700 fatalities since 1950. From 1980 to 1990, disasters caused estimated damages of around $2.8 billion to these islands. With the ongoing rise in global temperatures, the Pacific region faces an increased risk of more aggressive cyclones occurring with greater frequency, along with more severe flooding. One of the disaster mitigation strategies proposed by the WB for Pacific islands is to develop infrastructure capable of withstanding cyclones and to protect coral reefs and mangrove forests, which serve as natural barriers for these areas.
DUC TRUONG
