Fiji is ranked as the 10th highest disaster-prone country in the world according to the World Risk Report 2018, and this is mostly due to a very high degree of exposure and lack of adaptive capacity.

While speaking during the National Disaster Awareness Week Media Launch, Acting Director of National Disaster Management Office, Litiana Bainimarama says these awareness programs are essential to establish child protection and child rights hence, the disaster awareness will focus on children to be part of the awareness drive to promote disaster risk reduction.

Bainimarama says this also prepares communities for the beginning of the cyclone season in November by creating a sense of awareness not just for cyclones but for other hazards.

With this year's theme “Build to Last” it is aligned to target D of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Disruption of Basic Services. It is also aligned to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 on Sustainable Cities and Communities.

The National Disaster Awareness Week will be held in Taveuni from next Tuesday to Thursday. Planned activities for the three-day event will include presentations by relevant agencies, community awareness, tabletop and simulation exercises booth and displays by government ministries and NGOs.

The National Disaster Management Office urges people of Taveuni to fully utilize the services they will be providing as an opportunity to learn, share their experience and upscale their understanding of disaster preparedness and become more self resilient.