‘Let’s build a Culture of Disaster Risk Reduction’

Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Inia Seruiratu while launching the Disaster Preparedness week at Ba yesterday said everyone, everywhere should have a working knowledge on what to do before, during and after a disaster strikes. “We must build a culture of disaster risk reduction which extends through all levels of society; within communities, the private sector, civil society organisations, and across every ministry and department in Government,” Mr Seruiratu said.

“We have just over one week to go before the start of cyclone season in our hemisphere, we all know what that means for Fiji,” he said.

Damages

Fiji since 2010, has had nine cyclones; levelling homes, taking lives, and flooding arable farmland.

Total damage and loss recorded at FJ$2.42 billion representing 1.25 per cent of the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country from the years 2010-2020.

The housing sector according to Mr Seruiratu has sustained the most damages of $ 875 million, followed by the education sector at $789 million and the agriculture sector with $ 677 million respectively.

“Due to the intensifying impacts of climate change, we can only expect these storms will become more severe. So, we must be prepared,” he said.

Globally, there’s sharp increase in the number of recorded disaster events by comparison with the previous 20 years.

Globally between 2000 and 2019, there has been 7348 major recorded disaster events claiming 1.23 million lives, affecting 4.2 billion people (many on more than one occasion) resulting in approximately US$2.97 trillion (F$ 6.37trillion) in global economic losses.

“These disasters are directly related to a rise in climate change which includes extreme weather events that we here at home are now experiencing,” Mr Seruiratu said.

Global crisis

“Climate change is a truly global crisis, and Fijians are bracing for climate-fueled disasters alongside fellow global citizens in developed and developing countries alike. “Make no mistake; the eyes of the world are on Fiji. As we make those preparations, we should know we are not alone.

“Many have seen the example we have set in recent years in respond

Nikhil Chand and wife Sharin Shanita barricade windows at their home in Lautoka in preparation for the possible storm early this year.

ing to national disasters.

“Our officials are battle-tested. Our people are well-informed. Our response systems are world- class. “But when it comes to saving lives, we cannot rest. There is always, always, always more that we can do.”

The theme for the 2020 National Disaster Awareness Week is ‘It’s All about Governance’. Engagement at the community level is equally important. The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), together with their partners have conducted more

than 300 trainings on community based Disaster Risk Reduction ( DRR).

Resilience

NDMO is building community resilience at grassroots level because it is important for Government to standardise the community-based DRR Training Manual to ensure that all speak the same language with it comes to disaster.

Fijian communities are on the frontlines of the risings seas and stronger storms. Communities have not read about disasters in a

textbook or on some website, they have learned from experience according to Mr Seruiratu. “Community based training empowers community members to take ownership over the mitigation of disasters risks,” he said.

“Good governance promotes the need to pool resources together so that our vulnerable or poor communities are not marginalised.

“It leaves no room to leave anyone behind. It ensures we are all held accountable to each other.” he said.