Church Should Be a Safe Haven for Evacuees During Disasters, says Director

MEDIA RELEASE | November 18, 2021.

The National Disaster Management Office’s (NDMO) Geospatial Information System (GIS) team has been involved in discussions over current GIS preparedness and response tools complementing preparedness capacities this week at the Radisson Blu Resort in Denarau, Nadi.

Coordinated by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA Fiji), the ‘Safe and Redi’ training aims to show churches across the country the work of the NDMO and the legislation it abides by.

In opening the event, Director NDMO Ms. Vasiti Soko said churches should not only be identified as evacuation centers, but a safe haven where victims of disasters could find hope in building back better.

“The church is not only a safe hub but also contributes to the mental health of an individual or evacuees. It also helps ensure that in the event of a disaster when there is no hope, God is our refuge and this is where our church comes in,” said Ms Soko.

The workshop would see how GIS data would be aligned to the national database. It would make an effective response that addresses the key messages, through the NDMO, in saving lives.

In her remarks, Ms Soko also acknowledged the support of humanitarian partners that have made disaster operations manageable and less devastating for affected Fijians.

“So over the years, the NDMO has been working closely with our partners. In a nutshell, so much has happened with the relationship NDMO has built with our partners both in the pre-cyclone event and during a disaster.

“Not only have we strengthened our GIS capabilities, we have strengthened our relationship with our partners, we have strengthened our policies, we have also strengthened our network this is again one of the many reasons we are here.”

The week-long training ends today.