A disaster official says a new database to help Pacific nations with their disaster risk management could save lives and minimise the damage and cost impact of a disaster.
The Pacific Catastrophe Risk Assessment and Financing Initiative uses scientific tools to provide disaster risk assessment tools to help nations better assess their exposure to disasters.
The Secretariat of the Pacific Community's Mosese Sikivou, says the agency can assist with disaster risk mitigation and urban planning.
"To give countries at different levels at national and sub national levels, a better understanding of the kind of exposure they have, how they are at risk, and basically, in a very simple form, it's a compilation of data in relation to building structures - bridges and elements vulnerable to hazard events."
The initiative has the backing of various development partners, such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.
