Disasters

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) says its "Atlas" is the most comprehensive review of mortality and economic losses from weather, water and climate extremes ever produced.

It surveys some 11,000 disasters occurring between 1979-2019, including major catastrophes such as Ethiopia's 1983 drought, which was the single most fatal event with 300,000 deaths, and Hurricane Katrina in 2005 that was the most costly, with losses of $163.61 billion.

The Deputy Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni said $US25 million will be spent over the next three years.

Weather stations would be upgraded as part of the project and Mr Sovaleni said there would also be a consolidation of disaster and weather agencies.

"We believe in building our resilience and actually getting our preparedness up to a certain level. Also upgrading our systems, that’s including early warning systems, computer systems, data basing and so forth."

RNZ reports the region is often hit by natural disasters with major cyclones devastating Vanuatu and Fiji in the past 18 months.

Aleta Miller of the UN Women's Fiji office says women are more affected than men in the aftermath and should be included in disaster management planning.

But she said aid agencies often cast women as victims first and risk ignoring what is truly needed.