The newly refurbished Ta­vua District Emergency Op­erations Centre (EOC) was opened on Friday by the Assistant Minister for Rural and Maritime Development, National Disaster Management, and Meteorological Services, Joeli Cawaki.

This is the third emergency op­erations centre refurbished in Fiji funded by the European Union through the Building Safety and Resilience in the Pacific (BSRP) Project, which is implemented by the Pacific Community (SPC).

This government led activity; sup­ported by the BSRP Project aims to increase disaster preparedness through improving communica­tion during disaster season. The EOC refurbishment cost $FJ75,917 which also included the equipment installed in the new facility.

Mr Cawaki said: “The new office will ensure disaster operations are effectively maintained and services to our people continue during a dis­aster. The new office will further enhance Fiji’s efforts in building resilient people and also strength­ens disaster preparedness and management.

“We also acknowledge the assis­tance from the European Union funded ACP-EU BSRP project, which is implemented by the Pacif­ic Community that has supported the upgrading of the Emergency Operations Centres across the country.

“The Western Division’s geo­graphical location makes it more vulnerable to natural disasters and it is necessary to have standard Emergency Operations Centres (EOC) where operations can be ef­fectively controlled and managed at district and divisional level during emergencies and disasters.

“The refurbishment of the Ta­vua District EOC will improve the planning, co-ordination and management of operations during emergencies and disasters thus providing swift response to the public.”

Mr Cawaki also revealed there were plans to refurbish and retro­fit the National Emergency Opera­tion Centre (NEOC) in Suva, the Divisional EOC in Nausori, Koro­vou District EOC and Vunidawa District EOC. The Nabouwalu EOC refurbishment in Bua will start in March for the Northern Division.

Economic co-operation, agricul­ture team leader Emmanuelle Gui­heneuf said: “The important role of communications before, during, and after a disaster is critical to en­sure we reduce the loss of life and impact disaster causes on the peo­ple of the Pacific and this work is a testament to strengthening resil­ience in the face of great challeng­es. This work is commendable and a very well followed lesson from the most recent disaster in Fiji.”

Building Safety and Resilience in the Pacific project manager Taito Nakalevu said this work would en­sure divisions were able to engage locally and communicate with rel­evant departments and increase co­ordination in times of crisis.

Background

BSRP is a €19.37 million Euros (FJ$48.2 Million) ACP-EU Building Safety and Resilience in the Pa­cific project (BSRP) funded by the EU and implemented by SPC. The aim of the project is to reduce the vulnerability, as well as the social, economic and environmental costs of disasters caused by natural haz­ards, thereby achieving regional and national sustainable develop­ment and poverty alleviation in ACP Pacific Island States.

Edited by Mohammed Zulfikar

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