Fiji, Sept. 22 -- Pacific governments need to build transparency, accountability and anti-corruption safeguards into disaster preparedness before emergencies strike, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) says.

Speaking at a Pre-Pacific Media Summit workshop on Climate Change and Corruption in Savusavu, UNODC Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser Marie Pegie Cauchois said disaster preparedness was not only about food, equipment and response systems, but also about ensuring public funds and decisions were managed with integrity.

"Preparedness is really the key in terms of integrity and accountability, because without integrity and accountability in preparedness, it means that the communities that are needing it the most ...