Pacific Island Countries (PIC) are increasingly becoming vulnerable to climate-induced disasters. Is the Pacific humanitarian ecosystem prepared to respond to the growing humanitarian needs and the increased complexity of disasters?
Foresight analysts have urged the current system to recognise, include and promote a variety of actors to be prepared for what is coming in the future.
The historical emigration from PICs, the significant size of the Pacific diaspora population relative to the Pacific population, and their strong ties and exchange networks make Pacific diaspora an important part of the Pacific humanitarian ecosystem.
This research uses a diasporic perspective to explore why and how Pacific diaspora communities in Australia support their homeland(s) and their people in times of natural disasters.
“The multidimensional networks, flexible ways of working, the ability to mobilise resources as a community-to community response to a disaster and different forms of solidarity of Pacific diaspora signal the potential of Pacific diaspora humanitarianism in contributing to community resilience in PICs.”
Jeevika Vivekananthan (lead researcher) and Dr. Phil Connors (Director CHL)
The report includes evidence-based recommendations for the Australian Government, researchers and members of the Pacific diaspora.
Academic contributors
Downloads
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Crossing the Divide: Full ReportDownload the full report of Crossing the Divide: Pacific diaspora in humanitarian response to natural disasters (529 KB)
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Crossing the Divide: Executive Summary
Download the executive summary of Crossing the Divide: Pacific diaspora in humanitarian response to natural disasters (1MB)
Latest updates
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![Cyclone Winston – a Category 5 storm – devastated Fiji in 2016 (Photo: GFDRR/World Bank Disaster Risk Management/Flickr)]()
Kinship is vital to Pacific disaster response
As the Pacific cyclone season looms, Australia should look to those already stepping up – the Pacific diaspora.
