Participants from Pacific island countries are in Samoa to discuss ways to improve disaster emergency communication.
Salma Farouque of the UN World Food Programme says they want to create a network of participating organisations that would be prepared to respond in the event of a disaster.
“We are all from five of the countries in the region, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Fiji and what we’re focused on is how we can best prepare ourselves for when we face disasters,” Ms. Farouque said.
“Our name has food in it, and we’re known for providing food assistance during times of disasters, but it’s an interesting fact that WFP has a very strong capacity in logistics, and as well as emergency communications.”
“So that basically falls under where the first responders come in as food is one of the first requirements. So we that need to go out and do that, need to bring along other necessary needs like logistic, and also emergency communications, and we have brought that from that perspective,” Ms. Farouque said.
The regional workshop is being hosted by the Samoa Government and the United Nations World Food Programme.