SUVA, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- A major milestone has been achieved in Fiji as the country takes lead in the world to validate the Target E data of the 2015 Sendai Framework on Wednesday.
"Target E is a measure that estimates the number of countries and local actors that have Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategies in place. Its goal is to substantially increase the number of countries with national and local disaster risk reduction strategies by 2020," said Director for National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) Vasiti Soko.
Soko said that the milestone achieved is a mark of a new era for disaster management in Fiji.
"We will continue to build partnerships and work towards the common goal of leaving no one behind and we will ensure that Fiji's milestones and achievements are documented and recognized internationally," she said.
Disaster Risk Reduction Officer of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Tejas Tamobhid said that Fiji was the first country globally to validate target 'E' for the Sendai Framework Monitor.
Fiji's Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Inia Seruiratu said that the mainstreaming and implementation of Fiji's National Disaster Risk Reduction Policy (NDRRP), launched last year by Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, put the island nation in a good place with the Sendai Framework Monitoring.
"The Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management through the NDMO will work closely with the UNDRR to develop monitoring indicators for our National Disaster Risk Reduction Policy (NDRRP)", said Seruiratu.
"NDMO will use the Pacific Damage and Loss information system to monitor the implementation of Disaster Risk Reduction activities in Fiji," he added.
The NDMO will facilitate the formation of a technical working group comprised primarily of government representatives from key sectors, and will also include non government organizations partners.
In March 2015, at the UN World Conference on Disaster Reduction, 187 members signed the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (SFDRR). Enditem
