Damage to Vanuatu's Luganville by Tropical Cyclone Harold which was a category five cyclone with winds over 280 kph when it made landfall in Vanuatu's northern group. Photo: Leo Pax
The Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) says the latest cyclone season was 'near normal'.
There were eight tropical cyclones that crossed into the exclusive economic zones of South Pacific nations in the November 2019 to April 2020 season.
Tagaloa Cooper Photo: RNZ Pacific / Moera Tuilaepa-Taylor
The worst being the last, Cyclone Harold, which brought significant destruction and havoc to Vanuatu, Fiji and Tonga, and also caused problems in Solomon Islands.
SPREP said these storms highlight the need for ongoing resilience work.
The director of SPREP's Climate Change Resilience programme, Tagaloa Cooper, said working collectively together, services to Pacific nations can be strengthened.
A forum was held in Noumea in October last year to develop a statement forecasting what could be expected.
Tropical Cyclone forecast and actual Photo: SPREP
After discussing and comparing the available forecasts, forecasters decided that near normal tropical cyclone activity was most likely during the season.
This proved to be spot on.
Waste management
As the world grapples with the Covid -19 pandemic, countries are facing another challenge - how to safely manage the resulting medical waste.
Many types of additional medical and hazardous wastes are being generated during the pandemic, including used masks, gloves, and other personal protective equipment.
Effective Management Medical Waste Photo: SPREP
The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme is helping address the importance of safe handling and then disposal.
SPREP Director General, Kosi Latu, said the agency is pushing for waste management to be treated as an urgent and essential public service to minimise secondary impacts on health and the environment.
SPREP Director-General, Kosi Latu. Photo: RNZI / Sally Round