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Veetn Seeks Procress
on 3asic Water
and Sanitation Goals in the Pacific
The Pacific Regional Consultations on Water and Sanitation are being held at the Tanoa International Hotel,
Monday 01 -03 July 2013. Countries will be discussing how to progress action on the recent Statement by
Pacific Heads of State and Heads of Delegations participating in the 2nd Asia -Pacific Water Summit in Chiang
Mai, Thailand, 19 -20 May, 2013.
Michael Pettersen, Director of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community's (SPC) Applied Geoscience and
Technology Division (SOPAC), says the Chiang Mai Statement highlights the concern of Pacific Leaders that the
whole Pacific region is struggling to meet its Millennium Development Goals relating to water and sanitation.
"This Statement recognises that sustainable water supply and safe sanitation underpins the very feasibility
of Pacific Island Countries. It is clear that national and international development goals are unlikely to be
met without increased advocacy and financial support for water and sanitation, which will require renewed
leadership and investment at the national, regional and international level," he says.
Mr. Pettersen noted that efforts to improve water and sanitation in the Pacific region are not keeping up with
the significant and growing impacts of population growth, urbanization, natural disasters and climate change.
"This weeks' consultation meeting is designed to help Pacific Island Countries support the development of a
revised framework for Water and Sanitation for the region building on work already established through the
Pacific Regional Action Plan on Sustainable Water Management which has been in place for the last ten years"
he explained.
Mr Malakai Finau, the Director of the Fiji Mineral Resources Department and Chair of the Meeting, says one
of the main objectives of the consultation is to increase understanding of the current status and future needs
and prospects of the water and sanitation sector in Pacific Island countries and territories.
"This meeting is being held to coincide with the 2013 Joint Meeting of the Pacific Platform for DRM and Pacific
Climate Change Roundtable. This will provide us with a useful opportunity to discuss the development of the
revised Pacific Regional Action Plan on Sustainable Water Management with these other critical sectors," he
says.
Mr. Finau acknowledged the pivotal role that water and sanitation plays in disaster risk management and
climate change adaptation in the Pacific and the need for strengthened national coordination frameworks to
enable an integrated approach between these areas.
Outcomes of the consultations will be provided as contributions to the 2013 Joint Meeting of the Pacific
Platform for Disaster Risk Management and Pacific Climate Change Roundtable.
Water and sanitation is at the very front line of disaster response and risk management. Globally, more than
90% of natural disasters are water related, and recent years have seen the region face a number of serious
floods and droughts, with significant impacts on national economies. The water sector has an important