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3
July - September 2014
First FSM and Fiji National Platforms for Disaster Risk
Management
The first National Platforms for Disaster Risk
Management (DRM) were successfully completed in
the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) in June and
in Fiji in August 2014.
The National Platforms were made possible through
the funding support of SPC’s ACP EU-funded Building
Safety and Resilience in the Pacific (BSRP) project
and for FSM the joint funding from the USAID
funded PREPARE program being implemented by the
International Organisation of Migration.
The National Platforms are milestone achievements.
All state DRM stakeholders converged to share
experiences and learn fromone another to strengthen
DRM activities. One hundred participants attended
the FSM National Platform and 128 attended the
Fiji National Platform. Participants jointly agreed to
meeting statements on a number of interventions
that will be pursued in the next 12 months.
A highlight of the FSM meeting statement was the
agreement to develop a State Joint National Action
Plan on Disaster Risk Management and Climate
Change (JNAP). The realisation of the plan is essential
to ensure climate change adaptation and disaster risk
reduction are coordinated and mainstreamed into
the sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture, health,
education, fisheries and coastal zone management.
A major outcome of the Fiji meeting statement is the
recognition that many more communities are already
affected by climate change and disasters and there is a
need for more resources to address these issues. The
meeting also highlighted the need for stakeholders to
work in a more coordinated manner in order to avoid
duplication of efforts. Further, it was agreed that Fiji
will be embarking on the development of a Strategic
Plan for Climate and Disaster Resilience.
Mr James Lukan, the Deputy Director of Emergency
Management in the Office of Environment and
Emergency Management in FSM said, ‘I am relieved
that the Platform had ended successfully and happy
to note that the state Disaster Coordinating Officers
have committed to strengthen disaster preparedness,
response and recovery in the states’. Mr Lukan has
been working tirelessly over the past three months
coordinating the Platform meeting.
According to the Director of the National Disaster
Management Office in Fiji, Mr Manasa Tagicakibau,
’the Joint Fiji National Platform was a success as it
brought together a wide range of stakeholders from
government right down to the village representatives
whowere very vocal on the challenges they are already
facing and their need for adaptation assistance’.
Mr Andrew Yatilman, FSM Office of Environment
and Emergency Management