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http://www.sopac.org/index.php/component/content/article/192-sopac-reviews-disaster-risk-management-in-kiribati

 

SOPAC Reviews Disaster Risk Management In Kiribati  

Tuesday, 07 September 2010 21:10  

SOPAC is carrying out a review of the Kiribati national 

disaster risk management governance arrangements following a request from the Office 
of the President. 
 
SOPAC provides assistance to 19 countries and territories in the Pacific region through 
applied geoscience and technology. 

A major part of the review was a three-day workshop attended by 29 participants from 
Government ministries, Non-Government (NGOs) as well as church organizations that 
was held in Tarawa recently. 

 
The review was started in June of this year and is expected to be completed in December 
at which time the revised national disaster risk management governance arrangements 
will begin to be implemented and the Kiribati National Disaster Management Office 
business plan will be finalized. 
 
According to Noa Tokavou, SOPAC Disaster Management Advisor, the workshop 
offered “a unique opportunity and provided a useful insight into the current climate 
change adaptation measures as well as the overall risk management initiatives being 
adopted by the Government of Kiribati.” 
 
The importance of the review was illustrated when workshop participants reaffirmed the 
primary dangers now facing the country included rising sea level, drought, fire, storm 
surges, loss at sea, and pandemic/epidemics. They also agreed in principle to the 
following: 

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Hazards with a reduced likelihood but with significant consequences were listed 
as:  tsunamis, oil spills, plane crashes. 

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Disaster risk management roles and responsibilities need to be clearly articulated, 
in detail, within the revised governance arrangements. 

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Individual agency support plans (drawn from the national plan) should be 
prepared.  

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A strategic approach is required to government and community training and 
awareness in disaster risk management and emergency response management  

 

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Support is essential including by the workshop participants through their 
individual agencies to advocate for the revised national disaster risk proposals. 

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The collection and collation of data with the potential to forecast the frequency 
and severity of conditions that may give rise to disaster events is essential. 

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The organisation of single and multi agency exercises to improve capability and 
planning effectiveness for disaster events is needed. 

 

CAPTION: High wave event on a coastal area in Kiribati in 2007 (Library photo)