LocationsThis comes ahead of the Pacific Games and coincides with International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction
Vulnerable communities in Honiara Trained on Disaster Preparedness and Risk Management
October 18, 2023
Participants following the disaster risk workshop in Honiara.
Photo: UNDP/Daniel Gonzalez
Honiara, Solomon Islands – The upcoming 17th edition of the Pacific Games to be held in Honiara City from the 19 November to 4 December 2023 will be a historic event. It will attract around 5,000 athletes from 24 countries and territories of the Pacific region. In addition, there will be an influx of visitors from neighbouring countries and many people from the rural population will move into Honiara to witness the event.
Honiara is the most densely populated area of the country, and this influx of people is likely to cause additional pressure on existing services. Any disaster occurring during the Pacific Games period is likely to have more complex impact due to this sudden surge in the composition of Honiara’s population.
The Honiara City Council (HCC) has already experienced several natural hazard events with the flash floods of 2014 being one recent disaster. With this consideration, coastal communities in the city’s urban spaces, including communities living in river riparian areas, are more prone to hazards such as flooding,
In line with the South Pacific Games 23 theme of ‘Safe and Green Pacific Games 2023’, the HCC is committed to a ‘safe environment’ during the games, ensuring the lives of athletes, the participating population as well as the hosting communities are safe from any disaster situation, including any threats from natural and man-made hazards within sports venues and the city.
To do so, and with the main objective of mitigating risks, HCC is partnering with UNDP and the National Disaster Management Office to strengthen the capacity of local urban communities for disaster preparedness, increasing their awareness on safety measures, as well as disseminating messages on both natural and man-made hazards that may pose a threat to the successful hosting of the games.
UNDPs intervention is part of the Australian Government-funded Integrated Approach to Disaster Risk Management in Solomon Islands project, with this activity specifically focusing on urban communities living in high-risk zones surrounding the games villages and venues. This week, the initiative has targeted Koa Hill and Stream Valley settlements.
Training on disaster preparedness and risk management conducted in Honiara.
Photo: UNDP/Daniel Gonzalez
Through capacity building, community leaders (17 men and 18 women, including one person with a disability) have learnt about natural and human-induced hazards that may pose a threat to the safety of athletes, communities, infrastructure and the environment. Promoting self-help is one of the key principles of the National Disaster Management Plan 2018 and this training contributes towards increasing the coping capacity of these urban communities.
The last day of the training on Friday also coincided with the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, which falls on 13 October 2023 and bodes well with its theme for this year being ‘Fighting Inequality for a Resilient Future’ by linking disaster risk management to inequality.
As George Maoi, Chairman of Koa Hill South Sea Evangelical Church Organization, mentioned at the end of the training: “We have been trained to better prepare, respond and recover from the impact of the hazards and we have strengthened the community disaster management structures. Moreover, the participants from the two communities have drafted our respective disasters response management plans and we call on other relevant stakeholders to help us implement the plan.”
For more information or media inquiries please contact:
Daniel C. Gonzalez, Communications Specialist, UNDP Solomon Islands Office, daniel.calderon.gonzalez@undp.org +677 7740 740/ +34 656 565 270
