Permanent Link:

Material Information

Title:
DRR in Tonga
Creator:
Disaster Risk Reduction Program, Florida International University (DRR/FIU) ( summary contributor )
Publication Date:
Copyright Date:
2005
Language:
English

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Risk management -- Tonga ( lcsh )
Emergency management -- Tonga ( lcsh )
Genre:
non-fiction
non-fiction ( marcgt )
non-fiction ( marcgt )
Spatial Coverage:
Oceania -- Tonga

Notes

Summary:
This report is about the status of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in Tonga. It essentially presents the DRR plan that is being implemented in Tonga and the national entity that ensures the coordination of the activities of different DRR stakeholders. The report asserts that Tonga is in the process of developing legislation on disaster risk reduction and that the National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) is being implemented as national policy. While the plan views disaster as an issue that should be tackled directly by the government of Tonga, it also includes an awareness campaign to encourage households and communities to take actions to reduce risks independent of government initiative. The document presents the National Disaster Management Committee established by the NDMP to coordinate the activities of different DRR stakeholders. It also outlines sectoral plans that mainstream DRR principles into development objectives, such as Tonga’s Strategic Development Plan Seven which calls for the sustainable use and management of natural and environmental resources, and the Public Sector Development Program that requires the regular maintenance and improvement of infrastructure. The next section discusses the incorporation of DRR into national plans for meeting the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, and specifically how cyclones and earthquakes have been the two major classes of disaster hampering sustainable development in Tonga. It highlights the emerging threat presented by climate change, particularly the impacts of coastal erosion and seawater inundation, and Tonga’s work with bilateral partners to establish national foreshore protection programs. The latter sections of the document assess Tonga’s progress in addressing the various phases of disaster management, from the hazard and risk mapping required during the mitigation phase, to the establishment of contingency plans and emergency funds necessary to ensure adequate response and rapid recovery following a disaster. The report identifies the complex issue of competing priorities on one hand, and limited resources on the other, as particularly troubling for the adequate implementation of DRR in developing country contexts such as Tonga. It contends that the success of national efforts and commitments to reduce disaster risks must focus on addressing risks where they accumulate, at the community level. Also critical is an understanding that DRR is not the particular responsibility of one agency, but that of all. It advocates for a holistic whole of government approach whereby roles and responsibilities for DRR are streamlined into their everyday affairs. ( English, )
Subject:
General Risk Reduction
Citation/Reference:
(2005). Information on disaster risk reduction in Tonga.

Record Information

Source Institution:
Florida International University
Rights Management:
Refer to main document/publisher for use rights.
Resource Identifier:
FI13042685

dpSobek Membership

Aggregations:
Disaster Risk Reduction