Fiji is set to engage with the Asian Disaster Reduction Centre (ADRC) in Japan to enhance its regional cooperation in disaster management. This announcement was made by the Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Sakiasi Ditoka, during a bilateral meeting at the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) in Manila, Philippines.
Minister Ditoka expressed appreciation to the Government of Japan for facilitating Fiji’s involvement in the ADRC. He highlighted that this collaboration would provide valuable opportunities for capacity building, knowledge sharing, and best practice exchange, ultimately strengthening Fiji’s disaster risk management efforts.
He also thanked the Government of Japan and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for their enduring commitment to bolstering disaster risk management and resilience in Fiji. This partnership has been crucial in Fiji’s efforts to mitigate the effects of natural disasters and adapt to the challenges of climate change.
According to Ditoka, the lessons learned from Japan’s comprehensive risk management strategies have greatly influenced Fiji’s disaster response approach. He pointed out that Fiji has enhanced its disaster management systems and better protected its communities due to the technical and financial assistance from Japan and JICA.
Notably, he mentioned the recently signed Memorandum of Cooperation for the Early Warning Satellite System (EWSS), which utilizes Japan’s Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS). This collaboration with Japan’s National Space Policy Secretariat is expected to significantly improve Fiji’s early warning systems for tsunamis and other hazards, allowing for quicker and more effective emergency responses to protect communities.
Minister Ditoka also recognized ongoing efforts between Japan and Fiji in addressing geohazards, which include threats from volcanic activity, earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, and floods. He further elaborated that the Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Project, supported by JICA, has increased Fiji’s capability to incorporate disaster risk reduction into national and local planning.
This initiative has empowered the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) to enhance hazard assessments and encourage investments in disaster resilience, particularly for the country’s most vulnerable communities.