Fiji has taken a huge stride when it comes to responding to disasters.

This follows the opening of a National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) at Nasilivata House in Suva yesterday.

The state-of-the-art NEOC is fitted with dedicated equipment and software that allows monitoring in real time and prediction of disasters, areas and peoples who would be affected.

This will add value and enhance disaster risk reduction and response.

Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Disaster Management and Meteorological Services Jone Usamate officially opened the new facility.

“I am told the NEOC is equipped with a C3 (Command, Control and Coordination) system,” he said.

“This will add value to the work carried out within the NEOC because it is linked with systems to hazard warning agencies such as the Fiji Meteorology Service and the Seismology Unit.

“This will allow for lead-time in preparing and responding to the various hazards that we in Fiji are too familiar with like cyclones, floods, flash floods and the threat of earthquakes and tsunamis.”

The system in the NEOC is linked with two response agencies, the Fiji Maritime Surveillance Rescue Coordination Centre with the Fijian Navy and the Ministry of Defence.

Mr Usamate said the linking up of the systems ensured interoperability, which ensured that if services inside NEOC were compromised, the facilities could easily back up and pick up operations where it was disrupted.

Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Disaster Management and Meteorological Services Jone Usamate and European Union Head of Co-operation Christoph Wagner unveiling the plaque. Photo: DEPTFO News

Personnel, who will operate the new technology, have undergone training.

The NEOC will provide the information needed to the National Disaster Management Office to conduct its disaster reduction work.

The NEOC’s refurbishment was made possible through the funding assistance of the European Union, through the Building Resilience in the Pacific Project of the Pacific Community and Government of Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Edited by Percy Kean

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