Solomon Islands Marks International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2026: “Resilience Starts at Home”
The Solomon Islands Government has called on families and communities across the country to strengthen disaster preparedness at the household level as the nation marked the 2026 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR) under the theme “Resilience Starts at Home.”
The theme highlights the critical role that families, neighbours and communities play in protecting lives and livelihoods when disasters strike, particularly during the first critical hours before external assistance arrives.
In his ministerial address marking the occasion, the Minister for Environment Climate Change Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM) Mr. Wyane Ghemu emphasised that disaster preparedness is a shared responsibility that begins within the home. He encouraged families to take practical steps to understand the risks they face, prepare emergency plans, keep essential supplies ready and ensure that everyone knows what to do when warnings are issued.
“Preparedness is not something distant or complicated; it is something we can build every day, through conversations, small actions, and shared responsibility,” the Minister said.
The Minister noted that household preparedness can save lives, reduce damage to livelihoods, strengthen communities’ ability to recover and lessen the financial burden of disaster response on government.
Families were encouraged to discuss important questions, including what to do when a cyclone approaches, where to go during an evacuation, what essential items to take and how to support family members who may require additional assistance.
Minister Ghemu also highlighted the importance of technology in improving access to disaster and climate information, including the UmiRedi Digital Tools Platform, launched on 12 October 2026. The platform is designed to make disaster and climate information accessible, including in low-bandwidth environments.
Its mobile application provides early warning alerts, emergency contacts, incident reporting, educational resources and a “My Family Plan” feature to support household preparedness.
However, the Minister stressed that technology alone cannot build resilience. Lasting resilience depends on people taking action, families preparing ahead of time, neighbours supporting one another and communities working together.
As part of the IDDRR 2026 message, the Minister challenged every family across Solomon Islands to hold at least one conversation about disaster preparedness during the week.
“Do not wait for the next cyclone, flood, earthquake, or tsunami warning. Prepare today, so your family can stay safe tomorrow,” the Minister urged.
The Government reaffirmed that disaster preparedness requires collective action involving national and provincial authorities, development partners, churches, schools and communities. By strengthening preparedness at home, Solomon Islands can build safer communities, reduce disaster risks and improve its capacity to withstand and recover from future disasters.
The message is clear: Strong homes build strong communities, and strong communities build a resilient Solomon Islands.
ENDS