‘Adaptability and resilience needed to deal with issue’
NATURAL disasters continue to pose an existential threat to Pacific island countries; hence, adaptability and resilience are needed to deal with the frontand-centre issue.
This was highlighted by Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Minister Sakiasi Ditoka in his address during the Pacific Region Disaster Risk Finance Workshop in Suva on Wednesday.
Organised by the Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Company (PCRIC) and the University of the South Pacific (USP), the threeday workshop aimed to create awareness in addressing climaterelated issues in the Pacific.
Mr Ditoka expressed his enthusiasm to see the alliance between international and regional agencies in organising “this very timely and much-needed regional workshop.”
Co-host, USP said in a statement,
Your unwavering support and collaboration and partnership are the keystones of our collective resilience – PIF secretary-general Henry Puna
the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), as a partner, played a pivotal role in co-ordinating the Disaster Risk Finance Technical Working Group under the Pacific Resilience Partnership.
PIF secretary-general Henry Puna said the Pacific must continue to research and develop evolving modalities that account for the ever-changing nature of disaster risk.
While acknowledging the contribution of donors, Mr Puna said, “Your unwavering support and collaboration and partnership are the keystones of our collective resilience”.
As co-host of the workshop, USP welcomes the chance to facilitate discussions and meaningful participation of all Pacific peoples, particularly women and girls, in all their diversity, in climate change action.
This included access to climate finance, disaster risk management, the protection of persons affected by climate change-related sea-level rise, climate security and the sustainable management and use of oceans and river resources for development.
USP vice-chancellor and president, Prof Pal Ahluwalia reiterated that the institution’s partnership with PCRIC began nearly four years ago with the initiation of a student internship program.
The workshop ended yesterday.