Fiji ends its chairmanship for Platform for Disaster Displacement, hands it to EU
Fiji has handed over its chairmanship for the Platform for Disaster Displacement (PDD) to the European Union (EU).
The transition took place at the Hilton Fiji Beach Resort and Spa in Nadi yesterday, after almost two years of Fiji being the chair of the programme that addresses disaster displacements in the Pacific. The EU’s Francesco Ponzoni congratulated Fiji for its presidency and said the union would consistently work to address developmental challenges triggered by disaster displacement.
Mr Ponzoni is Civil Society, Gender, Human Rights and Health programme manager for the EU. He said priorities for the EU chairmanship include actions to foster stronger co-ordination on disaster displacement between all relevant stakeholders.
The collaboration would include areas of research and data collection, development and dissemination of a compendium of good practices and capacity building. “We propose to further mainstream disaster displacement into existing multilateral processes and to address gaps in the assistance and protection of people displaced by disasters, including those induced by climate change,” he said.
“The EU will encourage the PDD members to reflect on the institutional future of the platform, its setting, functioning modalities and objectives, as part of its next Strategy Review Process.”
He said disaster displacements, triggered by extreme events, was one of the biggest humanitarian and sustainable development challenges the world was facing.
“Climate change is one of the biggest challenges of this century. It affects everyone’s life today and it dramatically shapes the ones of future generations. It regards our planet and deeply concerns the
Pacific region,” he added. Permanent Secretary for Disaster Management Salaseini Daunabuna welcomed the new chair and reiterated the country’s assurance to support the chairmanship tenure.
“As the most recent outgoing chair of the PDD Steering Committee, Fiji acknowledges the support and commitment of the PDD Steering Committee and its 20 member states and the European Union,” she said.