A delegation from Fiji attended the Third Session of the Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction at the UNESCAP Head Office in Bangkok late last month.
The delegation comprised officers from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation (Mr Pita Tagicakirewa-Counsellor, Fiji High Commission, Malaysia), National Disaster Management Office (Mr Manasa Tagicakibau, Director), Ministry of Strategic Planning, National Development & Statistics (Mr Anare Leweniqila, Principal Economic Planning Officer) and the Ministry of Finance (Mr Mosese Ravasakula, Senior Economic Planning Officer).
The Committee discussed how recent events such as the devastating Super Typhoon Haiyan highlighted the interlinked economic, social and environmental impacts of natural disasters and the need for equally comprehensive solutions. These increasing shocks, which often occur simultaneously, called for multisectoral policy planning aimed at mainstreaming disaster risk reduction into development plans, poverty reduction frameworks and national budgets.
The Committee also reviewed the benefits and costs of mainstreaming disaster risk reduction and outlined strategies for building resilience to natural disasters, based on good practices across the region. Mr Tagicakirewa and Mr Tagicakibau delivered Fiji’s country statements which centered on the need for UNESCAP to assist Pacific Island Countries to improve data collection and the need for promoting regional cooperation on applications of space technology and geographic information systems for disaster risk reduction.
Mr Tagicakibau also participated in one of the High Level Panel Discussion sessions focusing on “Strategies in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Including Those Related to Climate Change Adaptation (CCA), for Sustainable Development”.
Prior to the Third Session, the delegation attended the Expert Group Meeting (EGM) on Strategies towards Building Resilience to Disasters in Asia and the Pacific on November 26-27, and also took part in an exhibition showcasing Fiji’s DRR and CCA functionalities.
“The meeting provided an excellent basis to discuss the need for innovations and new financial mechanisms to increase funding for DRR. While there is finance for response and recovery, there are very limited resources available for preparedness despite the evidence that one dollar invested in disaster prevention and preparedness saves seven dollars in response efforts.
Governments were asked to consider that future national budget would ensure funding for prevention and preparedness. This presents an opportunity to increase investment in disaster management by bringing DRR and CCA closer together,” Counsellor Tagicakirewa stated.
-ENDS-