US Congress & UN Foundation reps join Fiji Government to visit NDMO warehouse as part of Pacific Mission

SUVA, FIJI | A visiting delegation of representatives from the US Congress and the UN Foundation (UNF) joined Fiji’s Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Hon. Sakiasi Ditoka, and Fiji’s National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) Director, Vasiti Soko, to tour the NDMO’s humanitarian and disaster preparedness warehouse in Suva yesterday. 

While in the Pacific, the US delegation will visit Fiji, Tonga and Tuvalu as part of its mission to learn more about how the UN is supporting Pacific Small Island Developing States to navigate the interconnected challenges of food security, health and nutrition and managing the increasingly frequent and intense climate shocks in the context of the climate crisis. 

During the NDMO warehouse visit, the delegation had the opportunity to meet with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil society organisations, as well as with high-level officials from the Ministry for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management. 

“In recent months, our region has confronted formidable challenges. Fiji has grappled with devastating floods, while the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands have endured severe droughts. PNG has faced the onslaught of flooding, landslides, and earthquakes, and Vanuatu continues its arduous recovery from the dual cyclones Judy and Kevin last year. At the heart of our efforts lies the Sustainable Development Goals, a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all. Among these goals, SDG 17 stands out as a beacon of hope, emphasising the importance of partnerships for the achievement of all other goals,” Hon. Ditoka said. 

UN Resident Coordinator, Dirk Wagener, added that “the UN values its partnership with the Government of Fiji and the NDMO through the work of various UN agencies through capacity and systems strengthening in supply chain, logistics and emergency telecommunications, enabling people to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters and shocks”.

An illustrative example of this partnership was the UN’s sustained technical assistance in training the NDMO's National Emergency Response Team in July 2023, ensuring they are equipped to effectively coordinate and execute emergency responses. 

The delegation travels to Tuvalu today, followed by a mission to Tonga, then back to Fiji before returning to the US.

ENDS