Tonga needs more resources for better disaster prevention [1]
Monday, October 23, 2023 - 21:24
By Katalina Siasau
We are not putting enough money into disaster prevention, the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, Ms. Mami Mizutori, said in Nuku'alofa today.
At the end of a five-day visit to Tonga, that included touring areas hit by the HTHH tsunami, Ms Mizutori and the Head of the Pacific Subregional Office, Gabby Emery, spoke at a media conference held at the UN Joint Presence Office, Nuku’alofa.
She arrived in Tonga last week from Fiji, on her first mission in the Pacific, to look at Disaster Risk Reduction.
“We were keen to come to Tonga for many reasons, and one of the reasons is that it is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world that is affected by natural disasters, and that is a reality”, she said.
“We like to make sure that the support from the UN system, is based on what this country needs.”
Gaps and Weaknesses
Ms. Mami pointed out two key weaknesses in Tonga, in regards to disaster risk reduction.
The first one is financing. “We are not putting enough money into prevention, however, we are forced to put more money into response, because the disaster risks are ahead of us.”
She said they are looking closely to the development of the Pacific Resilience Facility, managed under the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).
“This facility can attract funds from the International community, to put into projects that are both for climate action and disaster risk reduction.”
The second weakness, she said, is the Early Warning System. “It is very focused around the monitoring aspect, but early warning system needs elements such as very good components of education on the ground that leads to early action, and also improved warning and communication systems.”
Early Warnings for All (EW4ALL)
The Early Warnings for All (EW4ALL) initiative was launched last year, by the United Nations Secretary General. It is an initiative implemented to ensure that everyone on earth is protected from hazardous weather, water, or climate events through life-saving early warning systems by the end of 2027.
Tonga is a lead in this initiative from the Pacific, by implementing a nationwide Early Warning System throughout Tonga with communications and siren systems, with assistance from Japan.
In an Early Warnings panel discussion, that was held on 20 September, in New York, Tonga’s Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet, Mr Paula Ma‘u encouraged funding efforts and the development activities of four key agencies responsible for spearheading the EW4ALL, to work closely with the Pacific through Weather Ready Pacific Program, to deliver these satellite-based innovations.
National Disaster Risk Management Office
Ms. Mami recommended the National Disaster Risk Management Office should be provided with enough resources.
She said the government and development partners’ investment is very much needed.
Added to that, NEMO and related parts of the government need a good understanding of the risks that are surrounding the country, and to imbed it to our policies, she said.
“These are ways that we can make sure that any investment in any sector is sustainable. It has to be risk informed.”
Ms. Mami and her team visited the tsunami affected sites in Tongatapu on Saturday, 21 October.
“I’ve seen progress in the recovery efforts… however, Tonga still requires a lot more support from its partners”, said the Head of the Pacific Sub-regional Office, Gabby Emery.
Public education
Ms. Mami highlighted the crucial coverage of the media.
“It is important that the media talks about these disasters, and use language that is understandable to the people and if possible, in multiple languages.”
"Media is needed so that early warning systems are connected to early action. If that connection is not there, then people will not take early action,” she said.