Loss And Damage Is A Threat: Soko

Loss and Damage is not an ab­stract concept for us; it is a lived reality and an existen­tial threat for our people.

This was emphasized by Nation­al Disaster Management Office (NDMO) director Vasiti Soko on the last day of COP28 side events n Expo City, Dubai yesterday.

Ms Soko said rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and the erosion of our coastlines threaten the very existence of our island nations and the cries of our com­munities echo through the waves as they grapple with the loss of homes, livelihoods, and cultural heritage

“In the last 15 years, Fiji has re­located 6 communities through a state led process,” she said.

“Through these experiences, the need to develop guiding principles and procedures to maneuver the landscape of planned relocation became necessary.

“Fiji developed the Planned Re­location Guidelines and Displace­ment Guidelines which established the guiding pillars ensure that the values and the rights of all Fijian affected communities, households and individuals are always respect­ed in the process of planned reloca­tion.”

Additionally, Fiji established the Standard Operating Proce­dures (SOP) for Planned Reloca­tion which opersationalises the Planned Relocation Guidelines coordinating the efforts of govern­ment implementing agencies and processors.

“A major component of the SOP for Planned Relocation is the Com­prehensive Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Methodology which not only asses tangible loss and damage but also endeavors to miti­gating some of the non-economic loss and damage risks associated with the relocation of communi­ties

“Due to there being limited mul­tilateral financing mechanisms available for planned relocation, the Government of Fiji launched the Relocation of Communities Trust Fund which enables public financing and development assis­tance as a form of blended financ­ing for relocation.”

She said the Government of Fiji contributed a portion of its Envi­ronment and Adaptation Levy that was taxed of luxury utilities and services within its tourism indus­try.

“Development partners contrib­ute directly to the Trust Fund through bilateral and multilateral arrangements.

“The Government of New Zea­land were the first to do so, finan­cially contributing to Fijis planned relocation initiatives.”

She said now with the Loss and Damage Fund being operational­ised, Fiji remained hopeful that this would ultimately contribute to reducing the burdens of financing Fiji has planned relocation efforts amongst other Loss and Damage related issues.

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