Representatives of small island states are being urged to work together to reduce disaster risk.
Samoa’s Minister of Finance Sili Epa Tuioti opened an international conference in Apia saying it allows small states to reflect on important disaster risk reduction concerns, including an opportunity to take stock of progress towards some of the important frameworks we are party to, namely the SAMOA Pathway and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
“We all represent small states that are vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change and natural disasters. Disaster risk management, as you well know, is a development and sustainable development issue for all our governments. Ensuring adequate financing to effectively address the negative impacts of climate change and disasters is necessary,” he said.
The minister made the comments at the fifth Global Biennial Conference on Small States (GBCSS).
The meeting is jointly hosted by the Commonwealth and the Samoan Government.
Photo supplied. Caption: Samoa’s Minister of Finance Sili Epa Tuioti