The Japanese Government has donated nine high-frequency radio sets to the National Disaster Management Office to assist them in communicating with their personnel on the ground during a natural disaster.
The nine high-frequency radio sets will be given to nine selected sites in Vanua Levu.
The Government of Japan provided FJD$179,968 for the nine high-frequency communication set.
While formalising the handover, Charge D’affaires ad interim, HADA Tsuguyoshi says Fiji is one of the countries that is exposed to a high risk of natural disasters and there is a need for the government to carefully map out strategies to navigate through challenging times brought about by natural disasters.
Tsuguyoshi says they understand that the communication technology used by this department is old school and the nine HFR set will enable them to communicate with each other easily.
He says due to the hardship faced by NDMO during the past natural disasters, it prompted them to take up this challenge.
He further says the survey of the Nadi Flood Alleviation Project is underway and this includes such components as the construction of surrounding dike and the improvement of inland water system of Nadi Town.
The Japanese Government says to date, 385 projects have been implemented under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects Programme which amount to an approximate value of USD $26 million.