UNESCO/IOC TSUNAMI READY RECOGNITION OF TWO VILLAGES AND 2023 WORLD TSUNAMI AWARENESS DAY COMMUNITY TSUNAMI DRILL IN FIJI

On 3rd November 2023, the village of Sila and Navuevu in the District of Cuvu in Nadroga Province received their certificate of recognition as a Tsunami Ready community through the UNESCO/IOC Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme under the Ocean Decade Tsunami Programme (ODTP) of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO/IOC).

During the Official Handover Ceremony of the official certificate of recognition, the Fiji Government Minister of Lands and Mineral Resources, Mr Filimoni Vosaroga highlighted that “the UNESCO/IOC Tsunami Ready Programme is timely for us as Fiji Government intend to increase the knowledge and understanding of tsunami risks and warning arrangements, especially for the vulnerable people of Fiji under the National Disaster Risk Reduction Policy 2018-2030.”

The UNESCO/IOC Tsunami Ready Recognition Program is an integral component of Fiji’s Community Based Disaster Risk Management Handbook that will guide practitioners in government and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) when preparing communities for a tsunami threat.

The implementation of Tsunami Ready was supported by the Project ‘Building Tsunami Resiliency in Pacific Island Countries’ led by ITIC with funding support the USAID and Plan International (Fiji).

The implementation of Tsunami Ready included a series of activities outlined below:

1. National Stakeholder Meeting on 8-9 February 2023 in Suva, Fiji;
2. Tsunami Hazard Assessment on 25th -28th April 2023;
3. Alignment of National to Community Tsunami Warning and Response SOP and Drafting of Community Tsunami Response Plan on 10th & 17th May 2023.
4. National Tsunami Ready Planning Workshop on 14th -16th June 2023 in Suva, Fiji;
5. Community Awareness Programme on 19th September 2023;
6. Community Tsunami DRM Training on 20th – 22nd September 2023;
7. Installation of Signages on 1st -2nd November 2023;
8. Tsunami Drill Exercise on 3rd November 2023; and
9. UNESCO/IOC Official Tsunami Ready Recognition Event on 3rd November 2023.

These activities led to production of outputs aligned with the 12 indicators of the UNESCO/IOC Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme the included the creation of inundation and evacuation maps and response plans for the community, as well as installation of signage for evacuation routes, assembly areas and tsunami hazards zones. The tsunami response plans included the alignment of the national tsunami SOP with community tsunami warning and response SOP.

The official UNESCO/IOC Tsunami Ready Recognition of the two villages is a culmination of a joint effort by the two communities, the Office of the Nadroga Provincial Administrator under Commissioner Western Division of the Minister of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, the Nadroga Provincial Office under the Minister of Itaukei Affairs, Partners in Community Development Fiji (PCDF), Plan International (Fiji), National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) and the Mineral Resources Department under the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources with technical support from UNESCO/IOC Suva, Fiji Office, US NOAA and the International Tsunami Information Centre (ITIC).

On 3rd November, the Fiji Government commemorated the 2023 World Tsunami Awareness Day at the Davui Hall, Shangri-La Yanuca Island, Fiji. This event was attended by students, teachers from nearby schools in Cuvu District, community representatives from Cuvu district in Nadroga Province, government representatives from Japan and USA, development partners such The Pacific Community (SPC), civil society organizations including Fiji Red Cross, Partners in Community Development, Plan International (Fiji) and Live & Learn Environmental Education (Fiji) and various local government agencies serving Nadroga/Navosa Province in Fiji.

The Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources, Honorable Filimoni Vosarogo Opening remarks highlighted “The theme for this year is Fighting Inequality for a Resilient Future. This theme emphasizes the importance of working together to address the underlying causes of disasters that make tsunamis more dangerous for vulnerable groups,” said Minister Vosarogo.

Minister Vosarogo highlighted that the prevention of tsunamis involves early preparedness and responding appropriately by everyone to protect themselves and their loved ones from the destructive power of tsunamis.

Minister Vosarogo was reminded of the 17 Pacific Islands Countries and Territories DRR Ministers Meeting that had endorsed the “Nadi Declaration” on September 16th, 2022, pledging to the Pacific Disaster Risk Reduction Declaration of Action with the aim to create a safer and more resilient region facing disaster and climate change.

“Consequently, the declaration recognizes the importance of early warning systems, collaboration with partners and communities to foster innovative approaches for disaster preparedness, and the inclusion of traditional knowledge. It will serve as a guide for the regions to build disaster resilience and take future actions.”

The official commemoration event was followed by a tour around the display booth set-up by government agencies and civil society organizations and ended with the live tsunami drill conducted by Sila and Navuevu village following the official receipt of their UNESCO/IOC Tsunami Ready Recognition Certificate. About 800 members of the community and local government response agencies participated in this tsunami drill exercise to test the effectiveness of their community tsunami response plan including the evacuation routes and safe zone or assembly area.

The commemoration of the World Tsunami Awareness Day 2023 included the Official Tsunami Ready Recognition Ceremony for Sila and Navuevu village and supported by the Mineral Resources Department (MRD) of the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources in collaboration with UNESCO/IOC and the International Tsunami Information Centre (ITIC) with funding support the USAID.