Fiji is set to enhance its regional collaboration in disaster management by participating in the Asian Disaster Reduction Centre (ADRC) in Japan. Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Sakiasi Ditoka, made this announcement during a bilateral meeting at the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) in Manila, Philippines, on Thursday.
Ditoka expressed appreciation for the Government of Japan’s support in facilitating Fiji’s involvement in the ADRC, pointing out that this opportunity will pave the way for improved capacity building, knowledge sharing, and best practices exchange to bolster disaster risk management efforts in Fiji.
He highlighted the ongoing support from the Government of Japan and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in enhancing disaster risk management and resilience in Fiji over the years. Ditoka noted that the partnership has been essential in mitigating the effects of natural hazards and adapting to challenges posed by climate change, with Japan’s extensive risk management experience greatly influencing Fiji’s approach.
The minister emphasized how Fiji has been able to enhance its disaster risk management systems and protect communities thanks to the technical and financial backing from Japan and JICA. He pointed to the significant progress represented by the Memorandum of Cooperation for the Early Warning Satellite System (EWSS) established with Japan’s Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) earlier this year. This collaboration aims to revolutionize Fiji’s early warning systems for tsunamis and other hazards, enabling quicker and more effective responses to emergencies.
Ditoka also acknowledged the continuing cooperation between Japan and Fiji in addressing geohazards, which include potentially destructive natural processes such as volcanism, earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, and floods. He referred to the Geohazards-based disaster project supported by JICA that has significantly improved Fiji’s ability to integrate disaster risk reduction into its national and local planning frameworks. This initiative has empowered the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) to enhance hazard assessments and promote disaster resilience investments, especially for the most vulnerable communities.