A recent handbook highlights the vulnerabilities of a country in the South Pacific to natural hazard impacts. Its geography and socioeconomic landscape create significant risks, with disasters often damaging the critical tourism sector and affecting agricultural yields. The country's finances are also strained by recovery operations.

The handbook notes that despite the country's upper-middle-income status, many people face significant hardship, with nearly 30% living below the poverty line. Informal urban settlements are particularly prone to flooding and disease outbreaks due to insufficient infrastructure. Further details on the country's disaster management situation are available from the Disaster Management Reference Handbook, which provides an overview of the challenges and vulnerabilities faced by the country.