𝗥𝗙𝗠𝗙 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

The Republic of Fiji Military Force Joint Taskforce Command (JTFC) participated in the Natural Disaster Awareness Week organized by the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) this week. Representatives from the JTFC spoke on the position of the RFMF in disaster management, outlining various roles the military played during and after natural disasters.

The roles of military as outlined by the Commanding-Officer JTFC Lieutenant-Colonel (Lt-Col) Sakiasi Baka included planning and execution of operations and training to achieve higher intents of UN Peace Support Operations, Joint Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief, Regional Joint Security and Stability Operations, Joint Military exercises and training deployments. He said that apart from this, the military also played a crucial role in rehabilitation and reconstruction of infrastructures affected during natural disasters.

In addition to this, Lt-Col Baka also acknowledged the foreign military assistance by the RFMF’s diplomatic partners in providing assistance and said that the it was crucial to conduct essential dialogue and interaction between civilian and military actors in humanitarian emergencies as it is fundamental to protect and promote humanitarian principles. He added that this would also assist in avoiding inconsistencies and allow both actors to pursue a common goal which was to protect those vulnerable or affected by natural disasters.

The 2023 National Disaster Awareness Week started with training sessions conducted by the Australian Disaster Assessment Response Team, followed by Communication Sub Exercise, Academic sessions, a Tsunami Drill, Marine Search and Rescue, Oil Spill, Urban Search and Rescue, and two days of ongoing exhibition.