A new evacuation center has opened in Yalobi Village, significantly enhancing the community’s disaster preparedness. This development comes as a welcome improvement from past experiences, particularly during Hurricane Bebe in 1972 when villagers had to transport vulnerable individuals such as the elderly, women, and children to a cave for safety.
The Assistant Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Jovesa Vocea, officially commissioned the new facility. The center was established with a total investment of $62,139, which included a government contribution of $29,433 for renovating an existing structure. Vocea also recognized the support from the United Nations Development Programme Governance for Resilience Project (UNDP Gov4Res), which contributed $32,706 under the Risk-Informed Development initiative.
Vocea noted, “This project highlights the ongoing collaboration between the UNDP Gov4Res Project and our government, particularly the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management.” He also expressed appreciation for the villagers’ significant contribution in building the center, stating, “Your commitment to develop this facility with a full community contribution of $47,000 is commendable. You have created a refuge where families and neighbors can seek shelter during emergencies.”
Nacanieli Vakalagilagi, the village headman, emphasized that the facility would protect the community from various natural disasters, given Yalobi Village’s vulnerability. He reflected on the traumatic experience of seeking refuge in a cave during past cyclones, stating, “Those painful memories will now become a story of the past as we celebrate this significant achievement.”
The evacuation center is equipped with a two-sided porch, a new kitchen, separate bathroom facilities, ramps for accessibility, two 10,000-liter rainwater storage tanks, kitchen utensils, tables, and chairs, as well as a solar electrification system. It is designed to serve as a safe haven for about 200 residents during times of crisis.