NGOs work together to save lives in the Pacific

Media Release
October 7th 2013

NGOs work together to save lives in the Pacific

Seven New Zealand aid and development agencies have joined forces to ensure fewer lives are lost in Pacific nations following a disaster.

Working with their Pacific partners, the agencies, ADRA, Caritas, Christian World Service, Oxfam, Rotary, TEAR Fund and UNICEF NZ, have carried out two disaster response simulation exercises, in Vanuatu and Tonga, and are about to hold a third in Fiji on October 7-9 with some training prior to the 48-hour simulation. The New Zealand NGOs have committed to work together, sharing their expertise and Pacific networks, to build resilience to natural disasters among our neighbouring Pacific countries. The New Zealand government approved funding for this disaster preparedness project in Vanuatu, Tonga and Fiji.

A spokesman for the group Robert Patton says the Pacific region is vulnerable to many types of disasters and is disproportionately affected by climate change and natural hazards compared with other areas in the world. He says, natural disasters result in loss of life, economic and environmental damage, and severe setbacks for development, and within the Pacific, the negative impacts of disasters are increasing.

“Our aim with these disaster response simulations is to make sure that the Pacific nations are disaster-ready so that coordinated responses are quick and effective so that more lives can be saved and economic losses are reduced.”

ENDS

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