Empowering Pacific Island countries to advance their hydrological and water resources capacities

In a significant stride towards enhancing disaster preparedness and resilience in the Pacific, a pivotal workshop was held in Nadi, Fiji, aimed at initiating the Pacific Early Warning Systems for Flood and Flash Flood Guidance System projects. This workshop brought together representatives of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) and National Disaster Management Offices (NDMOs) from six countries—Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu—with the collective goal of establishing a robust, regional approach to managing and mitigating flood-related risks. The two projects are being supported by the United States Agency for International Development through its Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (USAID/BHA).

Floods including flash floods are recurrent threats in the Pacific region, often leading to significant loss of life and property. The workshop provided a platform for sharing knowledge and challenges in the Pacific for early warning systems. Experts in hydrology, meteorology, and disaster risk management engaged in discussions and breakout sessions, focusing on the development and implementation of the two projects tailored to the unique climatic and geographical conditions of the Pacific islands.