Update: 12:50PM THE Pacific Platform for Disaster Risk Management gives the Pacific a singular voice on the global framework for disaster risk reduction, says Mosese Sikivou, the deputy director of the Secretariat for the Pacific Communities Disaster Reduction Programme.
Mr Sikivou said as representatives meet in Suva today for the sixth forum, it was important to note the pioneering work being done in the Pacific in developing an integrated strategy for climate and disaster.
“Our bureaucracies are already constrained and our financial and human resources are being stretched thin on the ground,” he said.
“So, Pacific island countries realised that it made sense to look for opportunities to combine their efforts to address their development priorities.
“This work started back in 2009 with Tonga and now 13 of the 14 countries in the region have made some commitment in some shape or form to integrate their disaster and climate resilience development efforts.”
Mr Sikivou said the Pacific way of working together due to resource and financial limitations made the integrated approach possible.
Representatives from Pacific island countries are at Novotel, Lami, for the three-day Pacific Platform for Disaster Risk Management meeting.
