New Zealand Civil Defence Minister Nikki Kaye has announced the next phase of a project funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade (MFAT) aimed at helping Samoa build its resilience to natural hazards.
The project is delivered by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (MCDEM).
“There’s a longstanding relationship between MCDEM and Samoa’s National Disaster Management Office (NDMO). The $750,000 package announced tonight will support this ongoing partnership and further strengthen Samoa’s disaster risk management programme,” says Ms Kaye.
Ms Kaye made the announcement at a reception in Apia last night, attended by guests including Ministers, officials, business leaders and representatives of humanitarian assistance agencies.
“Samoa is vulnerable to natural disasters and the personal, social and economic impact often associated with them,” says Ms Kaye.
“Three severe tropical cyclones in the last 15 years caused 26 fatalities and substantial economic loss. In 2009, the tsunami generated by a magnitude 8.0 earthquake wreaked havoc on the main island of Upolu, destroying villages and leading to the loss of 189 lives.
“Our long history of working with Samoa to build resilience to natural hazards has achieved significant outcomes, such as the installation of 23 tsunami warning sirens on the south coast of Upolu, completed in 2014.
“The next phase of the MCDEM-NDMO partnership will include ongoing work such as:
improving early warning systems
providing additional training and equipment for Samoa’s emergency operations centre
helping to develop community response and local evacuation plans
supporting Samoa’s national preparedness exercises
developing educational materials for schools and pre-schools.
“This $750,000 package is part of broader assistance that New Zealand is providing, along with other local, regional and overseas donors and organisations, to help Samoa improve its resilience.
“We’re committed to supporting Samoa because of the warm relationship we share, underpinned by our shared history and close cultural and people ties.
“We are partners in good times and times of need. Next month will mark Samoa’s seventh anniversary of the devastating 2009 tsunami. It will also be New Zealand’s sixth anniversary of the magnitude 7.1 earthquake in Canterbury, the first of a series of earthquakes that brought unprecedented destruction to the region.
“Investing in good disaster risk management is one of the most important things we can do to save lives and enable economies to recover. New Zealand is proud to support our Pacific neighbours to be more prepared and have stronger systems to deal with emergencies.”
Photo: Facebook New Zealand Civil Defence Minister Nikki Kaye visits the Samoa Meteorological Division