Pacific emergency broadcasting: vital but critically underfunded

This article examines the role of national broadcasters in emergency communication across Pacific island countries. Drawing on ABC International Development research with broadcasters and disaster-management representatives in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu, it identifies a gap between the reliance placed on broadcasters during crises and the resources available to sustain their operations. The article highlights how damaged transmitters, limited backup systems, weak integration into disaster frameworks and lack of priority power or telecommunications restoration can reduce the reach of trusted warnings.

The key takeaway is that emergency communication systems need to be planned and resourced before disasters occur. The article calls for stronger integration of broadcasters into national disaster systems, dedicated emergency communications funding, standing agreements with disaster agencies, workforce resilience measures and pooled regional technical capacity. It argues that resilient communication depends on layered systems that combine broadcast and digital channels, so communities can receive timely, accessible and trusted information even when infrastructure is disrupted.