BY BEN BILUA
Gizo
WESTERN Province’s Provincial Disaster Operation Committee has begun urgent planning to assist communities affected by Tropical Cyclone Maila.
Members of the Western Province’s disaster team convened yesterday to discuss strategies aimed at addressing the immediate and ongoing needs of affected communities.
The team comprises representatives from key sectors including logistics, infrastructure, food security, health, and education, along with other stakeholders.
Central to the discussions was how best to deliver assistance and identify financial resources needed to implement an effective response plan.
Each sector has been tasked to prepare and submit its own budget estimates, which will be reviewed in a follow-up meeting scheduled for today.
Chair of the Western Province’s Provincial Disaster Operation Committee (PDOC), Wilken Miriki, acknowledged members for attending the urgent meeting, stressing the importance of timely planning.
“The response plan is critical at this stage, and all sectors must urgently come up with their budget estimates to guide the work ahead,” he said.
Acting Chairperson of the Provincial Disaster Committee (PDC), Collin Potakana, echoed similar concerns, emphasising that the success of the response will depend heavily on the availability of resources and team work.
He said his committee will work closely with the National Disaster Committee and other partners to secure additional support.
“We will need external support to carry out our response plan, and we will seek further assistance,” Potakana said.
Team Leader of Livelihood Sector Committee, Sipuru Rove, highlighted the importance of coordination and accuracy in planning, noting past challenges in disaster response operations.
“From experience, we have encountered issues during the distribution of relief supplies. It is important that we develop a plan that is practical and adequately funded to support its implementation,” he said.
Reports indicate that a number of communities across Western Province have been impacted by Tropical Cyclone Maila.
The Western Province’s Emergency Operation Centre have received numerous calls from affected areas seeking assistance since the activation of the Emergency Operations Centre earlier this week.
The PDOC and PDC are now working closely to ensure that relief support reaches affected communities in the coming days and weeks.
The disaster team is expected to meet again today to finalize its response plan.
Photo credit: Ben Bilua
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