Project News

"We are contributing to ‘save lives of the people of Vanuatu' by every jobs that we are carrying out in our each specific position."

One of the participants in the lectures held by JICA Van-REDI project, wrote the above as a comment in the questionnaire. The truth is sometimes forgotten when we are busy in our daily routine jobs. However, one of our lectures made them remind or recall why we have been working in Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department, VMDG, and National Disaster Management Office, NDMO. He is not only the one who mentioned it, but also some others did the same.

Launched in March 2019, JICA Project for Enhancing the Capacity of Issuing Earthquake, Tsunami and Storm Surge Information, so called JICA Van-REDI Project, has been implementing in both VMDG and NDMO in Port Vila, Vanuatu. The purpose of this project is to enhance the capacity of VMGD for monitoring earthquake, tsunami and storm surge, and to improve the function of VMGD and NDMO to disseminate information to related organisations and to the public.

As mentioned in the previous article, Vanuatu is very vulnerable for natural disasters, ranked as the highest risk country in the world^[1]. In 2018, 9,274 earthquake events were detected, 53 volcano alert bulletins were issued, and 3 cyclones hit in Vanuatu. Against these phenomena, 57 permanent staff in VMGD and 14 permanent staff in NDMO have been tackling in collaboration with other related ministries and organisations^[2]. For the population of 272,000^[3], they are the ones of those who could ‘save lives of the people of Vanuatu'.

In order to strengthen the capacity of staff in VMGD and NDMO, and its functions, JICA Van-REDI Project received two experts in May. One is expert on earthquake analysis, and another is on storm surge and tide analysis. Both experts have had experiences working in the Disaster Risk Reduction or DRR related JICA Projects in Asia and Latin America as well as many years' services in Japan Meteorological Agency, etc.

During their stays in Vanuatu, they conducted baseline survey on monitoring network, operation and maintenance on seismic and tide observation system including equipment for further activities in next 3 years. Beside this survey, lectures on seismic intensity information, tide data analysis and information having various Magnitudes were conducted and totally 42 staff members from VMGD and NDMO participated. The comment shown on the first paragraph was written after one of these lectures.

Since these lectures were open seminar, some staff felt it was very new for them but at the same time some staff have known some part of it. The statistics of questionnaires shows as follows:

1) 62% of participants were very satisfied/satisfied by lectures

2) 80% of participants understood the contents

3) 40% of participants felt the contents were new

4) 6% of participants felt difficult and 20% felt easy

5) 43% of participants felt lecture was too short/short

The capacity development is one of the key components in the Van-REDI project. We continue holding lectures/trainings throughout project implementing years.

Ms. Esline Garaeviti, Director, VMGD said "I wish to thank the Government of Japan through JICA to provide the first ever long term capacity enhancement support program 'The Project for Enhancing the Capacity of Issuing Earthquake, Tsunami and Storm Surge Information in Vanuatu' to Vanuatu through VMGD. This project reached VMGD at the right timing when relevant positions in the VMGD structure have been filled with young and inexperienced professionals in the field of earthquake and tsunami warning systems. This project will boost the capacity of VMGD staffs including these young professionals towards an innovative multi-hazards early warning system for Vanuatu to save lives."

Not only the Ni-Vanuatu staff but also JICA experts are trying to contribute to "save lives of the people" in Vanuatu. The Van-REDI Project has just started. It is not easy to see the changes soon. However, noticing the important reason of work in VMGD and NDMO could be a good start for the Van-REDI Project to continue its activities up to March 2022.

Long-term Expert
Yumi Schulz Yasaka (Ms.)

Lecture on seismic intensity information

Lecture on tide data analysis