Honorable J. Uduch Sengebau Senior, Vice President and Minister of State

His Excellency Karasawa Akira, Ambassador of Japan to Palau

Mr Waymine Towai, Director of the National Emergency Management Office

Mr Brian Melairei, Acting Director for Bureau of Public Works

Senior Government Officials

Invited guests and ladies and gentlemen

Ungil Tutau, Ohayo Gozaimasu, Good morning to you all.

It is my pleasure to warmly welcome you all to this fifth official handover of goods ceremony and to acknowledge the generous contribution of the Government of Japan to UNDP through the Enhancing Disaster and Climate Project.

I am excited to officially announce that our retrofit National Emergency Operations Center has been completed. It has a new conference room as well as a communications and operations room which are furnished. The National Emergency Operations Center will allow the National Emergency Committee members to efficiently coordinate emergency responses. The major functions of the National Emergency Operations Center include:

·      Providing the overall command, control and coordination in response to national disasters

·      Gathering, collating and disseminating information

·      Serving as point of contact for the media through the Public Information Officer

·      Preparing and disseminating situation reports

·      Facilitating damage and needs assessment processes

·      Maintaining effective communication and information systems

·      Coordinating all government, non-government, private, and regional donor assistance

·      Managing the logistic arrangements of the immediate and medium-term relief supplies

In addition, a 3.5-ton truck which was handed over to the National Emergency Management Office will be used in support of emergency operations.

We would also like to express our sincere appreciation to the Government of Palau for the continuing partnership with UNDP, that benefits people on the ground, and to the Honorable J. Uduch Sengebau Senior, Vice President and Minister of State for your strong support and leadership. The retrofit has been made possible thanks to the invaluable support of Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Industries & Commerce, Bureau of Public Works. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, we, at UNDP, are determined to support the Government of Palau in enhancing their disaster and climate resilience. We are grateful to have a strong partner such as the Government of Japan, which enables us to work with the Government of Palau to improve Palau’s disaster preparedness and infrastructure.

We are convinced that this new National Emergency Operations Center will be instrumental to disaster preparedness and response in Palau, which will protect the lives of the people of Palau. We are also confident that the cooperation and partnerships developed through this project is contributing to the enhancement of the country’s resilience to the impact of disasters and climate change. I reassure you of UNDP’s commitment and support to this important project.

Mesulang

Airagato Gozaimas.

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Delivered by Aleyda Valdes, Country Project Coordinator on behalf of the Resident Representative of the UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji.