Fiji has been declared a Sendai Target Champion in Disaster Risk Reduction by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) in Geneva.

This was revealed yesterday by the Assistant Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management, Joeli Cawaki, while opening the Pacific Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Suva.

Assistant Minister Cawaki said: “Because of a successful effort towards Tropical Cyclone Winston response, Fiji is proud and honored to have been recognised as one of the Sendai Champions for reducing disaster risk mortality during its response period.”

Proper planning

Mr Cawaki was speaking to Government ministers and senior disaster management officials from 14 Pacific Governments and humanitarian partners from across the region.

He said proper planning put in place and commitment by a united multi-stakeholder workforce was a testimony during Cyclone Winston and was a cornerstone of success.

The UN’s Secretary General’s Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction, Robert Glasser, recognised Fiji as a one of five outstanding examples in efforts to reduce disaster mortality.

“Fiji is to be commended not only for its efforts to reduce casualties from Cyclone Winston but also its honest appraisal of its own disaster preparedness and identification of challenges that need to be addressed.”

Source: DEPTFO News

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