Fiji is set to engage with the Asian Disaster Reduction Centre (ADRC) in Japan to enhance its regional cooperation in disaster management. 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.
Ditoka expressed appreciation to the Government of Japan for facilitating Fiji’s involvement in the ADRC, highlighting the opportunities this collaboration brings for capacity building, knowledge sharing, and the exchange of best practices to improve disaster risk management in Fiji.
He thanked both the Government of Japan and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for their longstanding commitment to enhancing disaster risk management and resilience in Fiji. Ditoka noted that this partnership is essential in mitigating the effects of natural hazards and adapting to challenges related to climate change.
The minister emphasized that lessons learned from Japan’s comprehensive risk management strategies have significantly influenced Fiji’s approach. With the support from the Japanese Government and JICA, Fiji has been able to bolster its disaster risk management systems and better protect its communities.
He pointed out the significance of the Memorandum of Cooperation for the Early Warning Satellite System (EWSS), which utilizes Japan’s Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), stating that this collaboration marks a substantial advancement in Fiji’s early warning capabilities for tsunamis and other emergencies, thereby enhancing response efficiency and community safety.
Furthermore, Ditoka acknowledged the ongoing efforts between the Japanese government and Fiji concerning geohazard-related disasters, which involve destructive processes such as volcanism, earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, and floods.
The partnership has also facilitated the Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Project, launched with JICA’s support, which has significantly strengthened Fiji’s abilities to incorporate disaster risk reduction into national and local planning. This initiative has enabled the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) to enhance hazard assessments and promote resilience investments, particularly in the country’s most vulnerable communities.