Provincial review of National Disaster Risk Management Plan starts with Central Islands

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Central Province Premier Patrick Vasuni and PS Ministry of Environment Climate Change Disaster Management and Meteorology, Melchior Mataki with participants at the review of the National Disaster Risk Management Plan in Central Islands Province

Central Province Premier Patrick Vasuni and PS Ministry of Environment Climate Change Disaster Management and Meteorology, Melchior Mataki with participants at the review of the National Disaster Risk Management Plan in Central Islands Province

The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) with the support of World Vision staged its first provincial consultation last week, to review the National Disaster Risk Management (NDRM) Plan.

Provincial leaders, partners and stakeholders in Central Islands Province were briefed on NDRM plan and were trained on the use of Kobo, the NDMO’s smartphone rapid assessment platform.

“Feedback from Central Islands has contributed into the review of NDRM plan. At the same time the Provincial Disaster Committees also learned about their roles and responsibilities under the NDRM plan and what to do when disaster strikes,” said NDMO Director Loti Yates.

“Disaster preparedness and the level of preparedness is important. The actual communication link is fundamental to the sharing of information needed for rapid response deployment and initial assessments,” Central Islands Premier Patrick Vasuni, told participants at the start of the training.

The National Disaster Management Office is partnering with United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), Secretariat of the Pacific Community, and NGOs including World Vision to review the NDRM plan with provincial governments, and train provincial stakeholders including the Provincial Disaster Committees. 

Thirty-six provincial officials and stakeholders were trained in Central Islands on how to use mobile phones and tablets to collect data during disaster times.

Kobo was successfully used for disaster assessment following December’s 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Makira.

Kobo provides assessment teams, working in areas with mobile data network, the capability to upload information from the field directly to the NDMO servers in Honiara.

“This can allow us to carry out analysis and make decisions on how to respond,” said Mr Yates.

Training participants in Tulagi included workers from provincial government departments, statutory bodies, members of provincial government and church officials.

“World Vision is confident, that as more provincial authorities around the country become familiar with NDRM plan, the faster authorities can respond to disasters including the use of Kobo for rapid assessments,” said Zamira Rua, World Vision Sector Program Manager for Disaster Risk Reduction.

The next review of the National Disaster Risk Management Plan will be held in Taro, Choiseul Province.

 ~ENDS~

 For more information, or for an interview please contact:

Evan Wasuka, Communications Manager,World Vision Solomon Islands

Phone: 7653339 / Email: evan_wasuka@wvi.org