Vanuatu is to get a disaster early warning centre.
The state of the art facility, supported by the World Bank, is being opened in Port Vila today.
Vanuatu is considered one of the most vulnerable countries to natural hazards, such as volcanic eruptions, cyclones and tsunamis.
It has been estimated that annually Vanuatu loses seven percent of its gross domestic product to disasters.
The World Bank says new facility will form an integral part of Vanuatu's fight against the elements and paves the way for a regional approach to dealing with natural disasters.
