Samoa and the International Community Disaster Plans

Wednesday 30th November 2011, Apia- The United Nations, led by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in partnership with the UN Multi-country office in Samoa and the Disaster Management Office (DMO) of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), will conduct a three-day workshop on contingency planning and response to disastersin Samoa from 30 November and 2 December 2011. This will be the second such exercise conducted in Samoa – with the initial workshop held in April 2009, just 5 months prior to the Samoa tsunami in 2009.

The workshop offers a unique opportunity to enhance coordination and cooperation between the government agencies specialized in emergency response and recovery, the United Nations, national and regional humanitarian organizations, and the Red Cross movement. According to Mulipola Ausetalia Titimaea, the Acting CEO for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, “the Samoa Contingency Planning Workshop for Humanitarian Assistanceis a good moment to reflect on lessons learned from disaster preparedness, response and recovery work undertaken. As was evident from the relief and early recovery operations following the September 2009 tsunami in Samoa, that investments made in disaster preparedness and risk reduction paid off and prevented much worse human suffering and economic loss. The tsunami response in September 2009 was also the first time that arrangements under the newly agreed Pacific Humanitarian Team and the inter-agency Cluster arrangements were put into action, with success.”

The lessons learnt from this and other natural disaster responses in the Pacific, including Cyclone Pat in the Cook Islands, the tsunami in Tonga, and the recent water crisis in Tuvalu and Tokelau will be reviewed as a way to improve humanitarian preparedness, response and early recovery actions The participants will also conduct a one day simulation exercise to test the effectiveness of the measures, arrangements and practices that have been developed by the Government of Samoa and the international community. Mindful that in all disasters women and children are disproportionately affected, an important part of the workshop will be to identify and include in all plans, differentiated actions needed to address this reality.

The region is vulnerable to natural disasters and this is complicated by the scattered populations across small islands separated by vast areas of ocean. As the cyclone season is upon us, careful planning, and preparation and coordinated action is required so that the Governments in the region, supported by its regional and international partners can respond in an effective and targeted fashion during emergencies. “Preparedness is at the core of a well coordinated and efficient, humanitarian and early recovery response,”said Ms Nileema Noble, UN Resident Coordinator for Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau.“Indeed the UN system is working with the governments in the region to mainstream disaster risk reduction/management and Climate Change into key Government sector plans and the Development Strategy as a whole”.

The outcome from the workshop will also contribute to appropriate adjustments to the new National Disaster Management Plan of the Government of Samoa, before submission to the Cabinet for endorsement. The Contingency Planning Workshop will be held at Level 3 Conference Room, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi Building, Apia from November 30th – December 2nd 2011.

ENDS

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