Pacific

Key Pacific Issues - Disaster relief - FRANZ

FRANZ Australia, France and New Zealand Co-operate on Disaster Relief in the South Pacific

On the occasion of the 10^th anniversary of the establishment of trilateral disaster relief arrangements in the Pacific (FRANZ), representatives of Australia, France and New Zealand met to review progress to date and examine ways to further strengthen their cooperation.

The Hon Phil Goff  with (from L) Representatives from New Zealand , France and Australia

It was agreed that FRANZ arrangements represented an important contribution to the coordination and improvement of disaster relief operations in the Pacific and were working effectively.

Delegations exchanged information on changes in their national arrangements.  Australia had recently developed new strategic policy frameworks for humanitarian assistance and post-conflict activities and briefed the meeting on its review of various emergency response procedures. 

Low lying atolls are particularly vulnerable.

Delegations were led by Australia’s Emergency Response Coordinator, Mr Geoff Miller of the Australian Agency for International Development, France’s Permanent Secretary for Pacific Affairs, HE Ambassador Bruno Gain, and the Deputy Secretary of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr Gordon Shroff.  The French delegation included Mr Daniel Constantin, High Commissioner of the French Republic in New Caledonia and Mr Michel Mathieu, High Commissioner of the French Republic in French Polynesia.  Defence, meteorological services and aid agencies were also represented.

Coastal dwellings are often affected by high seas

France had undertaken major systemic changes, drawing on recent experiences in the field, to create new coordination structures and the capacity to despatch emergency teams rapidly to disaster situations abroad.  New Zealand had recently created a semi-autonomous body, the New Zealand Agency for International Development, to more effectively manage its development assistance, including emergency and disaster relief.  MFAT Emergency Task Force arrangements remained in place to work closely with the new Joint Force Operational Headquarters structure in Defence.

 

RNZAF C130 Hercules - The workhorse of 
Pacific Relief efforts

Recent examples of FRANZ cooperation were also reviewed, including responses to Tropical Cyclone Waka, which affected Northern Tonga in January 2002, and the Croix du Sud joint forces exercise conducted in New Caledonia in November 2002.  All parties acknowledged the valuable lessons that could be drawn from such cooperation.  The close cooperation between meteorological services of the three countries, including the monthly Island Climate Update publication, was welcomed.

The three delegations considered possible enhancements to FRANZ cooperation in preparing for and responding to natural disasters in the Pacific region.  It was agreed in principle that it would be useful to:

• ensure that information channels are clearly established and that key contact details are regularly updated and checked with immediate effect.
• enhance cooperation with national agencies of Pacific island countries, regional organisations and relevant international agencies active in the region, with a view to further developing disaster response capacities in the region;
• improve coordination of disaster reconnaissance activities, including the possibility of joint or shared assessment missions, and sharing of information on aid delivery;
• hold a joint disaster response “desk-top” simulation exercise in Australia in 2003 with observers from relevant regional and international organisations.

The three delegations reiterated their commitment to the original objectives of the FRANZ arrangement and strengthening cooperation in the interests of the Pacific Island nation.

Mr Geoff Miller  
Australia

Ambassador Bruno Gain
France

Mr Gordon Shroff
New Zealand

Wellington, 2 December 2002