THE Fiji Government, regional heads and relevant stakeholders are expected to meet at the end of the month to look at ways of addressing the needs and challenges focusing on disaster risk reduction and management.
SOPAC community risk manager Mosese Sikivou said the regional disaster managers' meetings are convened to allow discussion and consultation between the heads of the National Disaster Management offices on disaster risk management related issues in the Pacific.
Mr Sikivou says natural disasters are common to Pacific Island countries and have the potential to regularly cause a major drain in their government's annual budget.
The cyclone season in Fiji and island countries in close proximity to Fiji is from November to April every year.
Past experience says that most hurricanes and tropical cyclones are formed within the region during that time.
That is when people brace for natural disasters but some people just do not take the time to prepare for the disasters until it is too late.
"The meetings will provide a forum for exchange on a range of issues relevant to improving disaster risk management in general and particularly on mainstreaming within the government system," he said.
"It will provide the regional disaster managers and chief executive officers with practical approaches and solutions to address the mainstreaming issue," said Mr Sikivou.
The one-week meeting will be held in Nadi.
