Over 40 vulnerable communities in Fiji need to be relocated due to the impact of climate change
Forums such as the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction have allowed the National Disaster Management Office(NDMO) to raise their voice on the urgent need to relocate communities vulnerable to climate change.
Director Vasiti Soko said Fiji has been raising its concerns and that of other Pacific Island Countries who are not at the forum.
Soko is participating in the Global Platform for DRR currently underway in Bali, Indonesia.
“We have over 40 communities that are needing to be relocated. Climate change adaptation measures that need to be adhered to, the support from our international partners when it comes to financing some of these initiatives and so attending such a forum as this allows us to give a voice and voice of those other pacific island countries that are not here but are facing the same disasters that we are facing.”
She says they have been able to extend their voice on the impact of climate change.
The NDMO Director said that they have also been able to showcase their Disaster Risk Reduction policies.
Meanwhile, there is a need to make disaster risk reduction financing facilities more accessible and flexible says Disaster Management Minister Inia Seruiratu.
Seruiratu highlighted that the annual economic losses due to disasters in the Pacific Small Island Development States are more than double the previous estimates, at US$1billion or nearly five percent of the combined GDP for the Pacific SIDS.
He highlighted this while contributing to the Global Platform for DRR currently underway in Bali, Indonesia.
Seruiratu said disaster risk financing is critical in building resilience especially for Pacific SIDS.
“We cannot do this alone and we acknowledge the support of our development partners that have assisted us and continue to support our efforts to address disaster risks and the challenges of climate change. However, much more remains to be done, including the need to make DRR financing facilities more accessible and flexible.”
The Disaster Management Minister said Fiji has taken steps to minimise the impact of climate change.
“It has committed to the 100% sustainable management of our oceans by 2030, and the protection of its existing maritime boundaries irrespective of the changes to coastlines due to sea level rise as mandated in the Fiji Climate Change Act 2021.”
Seruiratu said the Government has adopted a risk-informed development approach to mainstream DRR and Climate Change Adaptation into subnational level policies, agency plans and project funding.
He said Fiji is looking forward to continue these conversations with the DRR community at the Global Platform for DRR in Bali.
This story was written by Praneeta Prakash, originally published at FBC News on 26 May 2022, reposted via PACNEWS.
