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Strengthening Disaster Information Management Systems

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On Friday 18th June the SOPAC Director Dr Russell Howorth handed over 8 desktops, 8 laptops, a photocopy machine, Printer and Server to the Permanent Secretary for Provincial Development, Multi Ethnic Affairs, National Disaster Management and Sugar Mr Manasa Vaniqi in support of disaster information management in Fiji.

Present at the handover were the Commissioners for the four divisions: Central, Eastern, Northern and Western. Each division will be allocated a desktop and a laptop for use in their respective Divisional Emergency Operation Centres. A Memorandum of Agreement was also signed at the handover outlining the roles and responsibilities of SOPAC and the Ministry in support of the initiative "Strengthening Disaster Information Management Systems".

The initiative is an opportunity for the National Disaster Management Office and Commissioners’ offices to better collaborate with other Government Departments, such as ITC Services, the Bureau of Statistics, and the Fiji Lands Information System (FLIS), to help establish and maintain disaster information management systems with added features such as Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Once in operation the system will support the provision of accurate spatial information in disaster affected areas and enhance response planning and other critical activities during disasters.

 

Dr Russell Howorth and Mr Manasa Vaniqi sign the Memorandum of Agreement between SOPAC and the Ministry of Provincial Development, Multi Ethnic Affairs, National Disaster Management and Sugar Mr Manasa Vaniqi on behalf of the Fiji Government receives the equipment from Russell Howorth, Director, SOPAC.

The Strengthening Disaster Information Management Systems initiative for the Fiji National Disaster Management Office is supported by members of the Pacific Disaster Risk Management Partnership Networkexternal  link.

Last Updated on Sunday, 27 June 2010 14:46  

Newsflash

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) Applied Geoscience and Technology Division will hold its annual meeting from 6 to 9 November 2012 at SPC headquarters in Noumea, New Caledonia. This annual meeting will allow geoscience officials from SPC member countries to meet and exchange ideas on issues of importance to the Pacific.

The goal of the Applied Geoscience and Technology Division is to apply geology, oceanography and other earth sciences, along with technology, to realise new opportunities for improving the livelihoods of Pacific communities. The division is structured in three technical programmes: Ocean and Islands, Water and Sanitation, and Disaster Reduction.

The conference will include discussions on important regional issues like mining of deep sea mineral deposits and management of the region’s fragile fresh water resources. But the division will also highlights emerging issues and opportunities with specific presentations on topics such as reducing the risk of storm waves and surges in the Tuamotu Archipelago, or the institutionalisation of disaster risk management training in Solomon Islands.

The media are invited to the opening ceremony on Tuesday 6 November at 8:30 a.m in the main conference room at SPC headquarters. The opening will be made by Mr Henry Puna, Cook Islands Prime Minister.