THE Government is working to ensure people living with disabilities have timely access to support and services as Fiji continues to experience the effects of El Niño and climate change.
Acting director women at the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection Amelia Nairoba said disaster preparedness and response must consider the specific risks faced by persons with disabilities.
She said Fiji was already experiencing the impacts of climate change, including El Niño-related dry conditions affecting communities such as Vatulele and Batiki, where water supplies had been affected.
“Those are some of the things that we consider ourselves as Government,” Ms Nairoba said.
She said the ministry was working with government agencies and stakeholders to ensure services were provided in a timely and coordinated manner during emergencies.
Ms Nairoba said emergencies could create additional risks for people with disabilities when warnings and critical information were not accessible.
“Imagine an emergency warning being announced but a deaf person cannot access that warning.
“Imagine an evacuation centre where critical instructions are communicated verbally without interpretation.”
She said accessibility during disasters was not simply a matter of good practice but could determine whether people with disabilities were able to respond safely during an emergency.
Ms Nairoba said the ministry’s safety and protection cluster was part of the Government’s disaster preparedness and response arrangements.
She said the cluster continued to identify gaps and strengthen coordination between government agencies and other stakeholders to ensure people with disabilities received an appropriate response.
“And nothing about persons with disabilities should be planned without listening to persons with disabilities.”
Fiji Disabled Peoples Federation president Setareki Macanawai escorts Acting director women at the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection Amelia Nairoba and World Federation of the Deaf Oceania chairperson Krishneer Sen during the closing of the International Week of Deaf People and International Day of Sign Language at the Fiji Technical Vocational Training Centre for Persons with Disability in Brown St, Suva on Saturday.
Pictures: JONACANI LALAKOBAU
From left, Marica Leilani, Mereadani Tuvou, Merekarita Waqali and Asenaca Dimainavolau.
Ana and Setareki Macanawai during the closing of the International Week of Deaf People and International Day of Sign Language on Saturday.
Fiji Disabled Peoples Federation (FDPF) president Setareki Macanawai with Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection acting director women Amelia Nairoba, World Federation of the Deaf Oceania chairperson Krishneer Sen and members of the deaf community cut the cake during the closing of the International Week of Deaf People and International Day of Sign Language at the Fiji Technical Vocational Training Centre for Persons with Disability in Brown St, Suva on Saturday. Pictures: JONACANI LALAKOBAU
Makarita Miriyama and Eve Naqio during the closing of the International Week of Deaf People and International Day of Sign Language at the Fiji Technical Vocational Training Centre for Persons with Disability at Brown Street in Suva on Saturday, September 26, 2026. Picture: JONACANI LALAKOBAU
From left, Selina Seau, Marica Leilani and Bulou Merewalesi Kubulala.
From left, Nanise Tuni, Annie Malua, Dee Vueti, Seru Naicegucegu and Makelesi Tuni.
Tomasi Bou, left, converses in sign language with Makarita Miriyama.
