By Staff Writer
The threat of countries drowned under water by global warming and sea level rise, holds the highest fears for the Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.
Climate change risks are more threatening to the lives of vulnerable nations than the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Government leader.
“CVOID – 19 will only kill a few people whereas countries drowned under water as predicted by scientists if rising world temperatures are not controlled is catastrophic,” PM Tuilaepa warned at the opening of the NEOC disaster relief co-ordinating centre.
The $6.4 million tala World Bank funded two storey building at Tuanaimato is to be the heart of the response system for Samoa in times of natural disasters.
All personnel from Government and non-Government bodies with roles to play in disaster relief operations will join up at the Tuanaimato Centre.
The united approach helps the local expertise to plan and co-ordinate the most effective response needed to be taken.
“Samoa has wanted a centre like this for a long time and it sets up a precedent for other island nations to minimise the risks from climate change,” the PM added.
Cyclones are the leading causes of natural disasters for Samoa with flooding, bush fires and earthquakes contributing.
There was also a tsunami that killed more than a hundred people along the coastal villages on the south-west side of Upolu in 2009.
The new centre is under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, MNRE, and is strategically located at Tuanaimato where it is better accessed by everyone.
“The emergency centre makes it easier for the general public to zero in for help rather than having to ask around as it has been the practice.”
The ground floor of the centre is taken up mostly by an operations workspace with a small communications room to reach anywhere in the country.
Activating signals are also sent from the centre to siren warning systems strategically located in areas around Samoa more vulnerable to natural disasters.
Staff office is placed mostly on the top floor.
The centre is adjacent to the Samoa Red Cross and the Fire and Emergency Services branch at Tuanaimato.
