There are positive signs for the Pacific region as Fiji is planning to construct a humanitarian supplies warehouse at the Republic of Fiji Military Forces Black Rock training facility in Nadi.
This will enhance Fiji’s ability to respond to natural disasters and other humanitarian crises in Fiji and the Pacific Region.
Speaking at the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's biggest humanitaraian warehouse in Australia, Palladium Manager Project Operations, Matthew Everitt says the setting up of the humanitarian warehouse in Fiji would be great news for the Pacific.
While addressing the International Media Visit Team on Australia's Crisis Capabilities, Everitt said the Pacific is the most isolated and most disaster prone region in the world.
With warehouses in Brisbane, Sydney and PNG, the Australians can support at least 11,500 families or 57,000 in it's disaster response efforts in the Indo‑Pacific.
The warehouses in Australia have emergency stocks ready for takeoff within hours and many times the Australian Army gets involved in delivering supplies through the Royal Australian Air Force.
This includes emergency supplies like tarpaulins, water purification tablets, hygiene packs, generators, tools, solar lights and chargers.
Everitt says Fiji did pretty well in it's response after Cyclone Winston in February 2016.
He says they knew Fiji is a middle income earning country with a strong government and centralised procedures, and this worked after Cyclone Winston.
He says there are other countries where there is no government or procedures and people get paid with salt and soap because there is no money.
There is already confirmation that Australia is delivering a $2 million Australian package of support for Fiji’s Black Rock training facility.
Australia has already offered a package of support for Black Rock, which Defence Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola accepted.
Everitt also confirms that Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama and Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed‑Khaiyum have already visited the Brisbane humantarian warehouse.
He says they are ready to assist Fiji in this great initiative.
