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Mobile Emergency Operations Centre will strengthen National Disaster Coordination

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Mobile Emergency Operations Centre

28 Mar 2018 | Suva

The Fiji National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) introduced a new Mobile Emergency Operations Centre this week, providing the office with a valuable tool for community disaster awareness, improved communication between Emergency Operation Centres (EOC’s),  and better response times. The Mobile Emergency Operations Centre, valued at FJD 59,000, was made possible through the Pacific Community’s (SPC), Building Safety and Resilience in the Pacific (BSRP) Project, with funding support from the European Union. The opening of the centre was marked by an official ceremony, during which the EU Head of Cooperation Mr Christoph Wagner handed over keys for the mobile centre’s Nissan NP300 to Fiji’s Permanent Secretary for Rural and Maritime Development, Disaster Management, and Meteorological Services, Mr. Meleti Bainimarama.

 

‘‘We are very proud of the work born out of the partnership between the BSRP Project and Fiji NDMO. This emergency vehicle is a result of the need identified by the Project to strengthen NDMO capacity. What we see here before us is only a small glimpse into a larger chain of activities the Project and NDMO are working on to build national disaster resilience’, Mr. Bainimarama said.

In addition to the vehicle, the BSRP project, in partnership with the Fiji NDMO, has refurbished three Emergency Operation Centres (EOC’s) in Fiji, installed water tanks in drought prone areas, and relocated Tukuraki village following a massive landslide. Speaking at the handover, the Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation for the Pacific, Mr Christoph Wagner said ‘The EU is pleased to support the Fiji NDMO through the provision of an emergency vehicle which will help to link with evacuation centres or health centres. We hope that today’s handover will enable the NDMO to increase the operational capacity of their team before, during and after disasters”.

SPC Deputy Director of the Disaster and Community Resilience Programme, Rhonda Robinson highlighted the Centre as part of Pacific wide efforts to be better prepared for disaster response. ‘As we are in the midst of disaster season, the handover of the emergency vehicle is a timely reminder to all Pacific Islanders that we need to take a proactive approach to disaster preparedness. Let us not wait until we hear the warning siren to prepare, we must prepare for future disasters today’.

 

Media contacts:

Peni Kunikoro, NDMO Communications Officer Fiji Government. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Vivita Matanimeke, BSRP Communications Consultant. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Last Updated on Tuesday, 24 April 2018 09:40  

Newsflash

 

Vanuatu broadcasters and media came together with the National Disaster Management Office, and the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazard Department to plan and prepare their Climate and Disaster Resilience Plans this week.

 

Funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through ABC International and PACMAS, the Pacific Media Assistance Scheme, and implemented in partnership with the Secretariat of the Pacific Communty (SPC) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), this training seeks to assist Pacific broadcasters in eight countries in preparing plans that will help them be more resilient to the effects of climate change and disasters.

 

Having the very recent experience of category five Tropical Cyclone Pam, the broadcasters and government ministries were able to share their experiences and lessons learnt to help develop plans.

 

This will help them continue broadcasting warnings and information to the public during times of disaster when people need this service the most.