HE PRESIDENT RATU WILIAME KATONIVERE'S ADDRESS AT THE NATIONAL DISASTER AWARENESS WEEK CLOSING DINNER

Special Representative of the United Nation Secretary General and the Head of the United Nation of Disaster Risk Reduction, Your Excellency Mami Mizutori,
Minister Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Honourable Sakiasi Ditoka,
Invited Guests,
Ladies & Gentlemen.
 
Ni sa bula Vinaka and Good Evening!
 
Today, we gather here at the conclusion of the 2023 National Disaster Awareness Week, a week filled with activities and events aimed at enhancing our preparedness and resilience in the face of potential disasters. It has been a week of learning, training, and reflection, and it is only fitting that we take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate our collective efforts. As we come to the end of this significant week, I see in this room a sea of faces that reflect dedication, commitment, and a genuine concern for the safety and well-being of our fellow Fijians.
 
On behalf of the Government, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for your unwavering support and participation in making this National Disaster Awareness Week a resounding success. It is during such times that we witness the true strength of our community, where individuals from all walks of life come together with a shared purpose: to better prepare ourselves, our families, and our communities for the challenges that natural and human-made disasters may bring.
 
The activities of this week have been diverse and demanding, from the insightful training sessions conducted by the Australian Disaster Assessment Response Team to the various exercises like the Communication Sub Exercise, Academic sessions, Tsunami Drill, Marine Search and Rescue, Oil Spill, Urban Search and Rescue, and the ongoing exhibition. It's been an intense schedule, and for those of you who actively planned and participated in these activities, I must say your level of commitment and dedication is truly commendable.
 
This year, our National Disaster Awareness Week served as a demonstration of our nation's resilience. We wholeheartedly embraced the theme of "Resilience for All."

Through your active engagement and the involvement of our disaster risk reduction community over the past few days, we have evaluated and comprehended our collective level of readiness concerning earthquake and tsunami scenarios. Organizations have also assessed their standard operating procedures (SOPs). However, what's most significant is the relationships you have fostered among yourselves. As a result, in times of response, you are no longer unfamiliar to one another.
 
Yesterday marked a significant milestone as we accomplished the successful evacuation of 1,203 individuals from 16 different locations nationwide. This represents the largest-scale evacuation we have ever conducted on a national level, and the seamless execution of this operation is a clear testament to the high level of professionalism present in this room. The evacuation encompassed a total of 7 schools, 1 community, 1 hospital, the Suva Market, and 6 businesses in the greater Suva area, all of which actively participated in the tsunami drill.
 
I would like to extend a special acknowledgment to the Pacific Disability Forum for their valuable contribution to the drill. It is important to recognize that every individual's well-being is of utmost importance, and we are all on this collective journey together. What we have witnessed over the past few days gives us confidence in our level of preparedness as we move closer to the cyclone season.
 
The knowledge and skills you have acquired during this week will not only benefit you but will also have a far-reaching impact on our communities and our nation as a whole. Our commitment to preparedness is an ongoing process, and with just 13 days remaining until the commencement of our cyclone season, we are now better equipped. Having observed the national drill and the collective efforts of all participants, I am confident that we will face the upcoming cyclone season with unity and increased resilience.
 
With these few words, I welcome you to the closing of the 2023 National Disaster Awareness Week. Your dedication to disaster preparedness is a testament to the collective spirit of resilience that defines Fiji. Let us carry the lessons learned and the experiences gained this week forward with us as we continue to work together for a safer, more resilient Fiji.
 
Thank You, Vinaka Vakalevu and Dhanyavaad!