Fiji will engage with the Asian Disaster Reduction Centre (ADRC) in Japan, aiming to bolster its regional cooperation in disaster management. Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Sakiasi Ditoka, made this announcement during a bilateral meeting held on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) in Manila, Philippines.
Ditoka expressed appreciation for the Japanese government’s role in facilitating Fiji’s participation in the ADRC, highlighting the new opportunities for capacity building, knowledge exchange, and the sharing of best practices to enhance disaster risk management efforts.
The minister acknowledged the long-standing support from the Government of Japan and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in strengthening disaster risk management and resilience in Fiji. He noted that their partnership has been essential in mitigating the effects of natural disasters and addressing climate change challenges.
He emphasized that the insights gained from Japan’s extensive experience in risk management have played a significant role in shaping Fiji’s strategies. Through technical assistance and financial backing from the Japanese government and JICA, Fiji has improved its disaster risk management systems, better protecting its communities.
Ditoka highlighted a significant advancement in this collaboration with the recent signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation for an Early Warning Satellite System (EWSS) that utilizes Japan’s Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS). This development is expected to enhance Fiji’s capabilities in disaster preparedness, enabling prompt and effective responses to emergencies such as tsunamis.
He also recognized the ongoing efforts between the Japanese government and Fiji concerning geohazards, which include natural processes like volcanism, earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, and floods. The collaboration is set to improve disaster risk reduction (DRR) measures, particularly focusing on integrating these strategies into national and local planning frameworks, thereby empowering the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) to enhance hazard assessments and promote disaster resilience investments in vulnerable communities.