The Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, through the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), received nine computer sets worth $30,000 from Live and Learn Fiji and Care Australia last week to boost future disaster response operations in the Northern Division.
Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Inia Seruiratu received the handover certificate of the items which have been shipped to the North.
He said the computers would be used to complement the high frequency radio systems which were being installed in several black spot areas in the Northern Division.
“Such thoughtful actions are commended and the benefits, I must say, that will not only be a huge boost to the 9HF radio capabilities in the Northern Division but, more importantly, service delivery component – communication – of the ministry during disasters,” he said.
“The greatest advantage of these HF radios is its capability to make communications in long distance stations between the ground level and base emergency operation centres during disasters, and also its reliability to communicate even when the network has been altered or communication towers damaged.
“Now, with the capacity of the 9 new desktop computers, the HF radios can be connected to these computers and they also have the ability to send emails.”
He said such timely support was a boost to their communication systems before, during and after disasters and this act of generosity marked a clear direction to fulfilling the 2030 Global Agenda of reaching the furthest first and leaving no one behind.
In his remarks during the handover ceremony, AHP (Australian Humanitarian Partnership) Fiji country committee coordinator 2021 Josefa Lalabalavu said its partners appreciated the support and partnership of the ministry and NDMO and looked forward to more opportunities for collaboration.
“This, we believe, will support preparedness activities within the Northern Division as well as facilitate response work during times of natural disasters,” he said.
