The International Organization for Migration (IOM) arranged a meeting with the community in Sekere Village, Pohnpei on Saturday, July 28, to raise awareness on climate change and disaster risk. This community socialization forms an important part of the Climate Adaptation, Disaster Risk Reduction and Education (CADRE) Program that IOM is managing and implementing on behalf of the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID). The aim of the CADRE Program is to build the resilience of vulnerable communities in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) to climate change, including climate-induced natural hazards. IOM will target approximately 10,000 school-aged students at up to 50 schools and surrounding communities under the CADRE program.

The Sekere community was chosen as the first of the 50 target communities throughout the FSM and the RMI due to the high level of interest expressed by the community for increasing their own level of resilience to climate change and preparedness for disasters. Their enthusiasm was clearly demonstrated during the school evacuation drills coordinated by IOM and the Pohnpei State Government last year. The community meeting in Sekere is the first of several steps in which IOM will provide skills, knowledge and equipment for improved preparedness and response planning for disaster events.

At Saturday's gathering, over 70 community members attended to hear IOM Trainer, Ms. Yolanda Joab's presentation to impart concepts of climate change and its implications for increased risks of future disaster events.  Following Ms. Joab's presentation, IOM Emergency Response Advisor, Rick Herman introduced the subject of Hazard, Vulnerability and Capacity (HVC) Mapping to the participants who appeared very engaged.

The community leaders will select a good cross-section of community members to volunteer to participate in a Hazard, Vulnerability and Capacity Mapping (HVCM) exercise.  One of the youth organization leaders requested if IOM could increase the number of participants in the HVCM exercise, due to the overwhelming interest being expressed by younger members of the community to participate in this activity.  IOM will return to Sekere Municipality to commence the mapping exercise in the coming weeks. Organizations interested in being involved are encouraged to contact the IOM Head Office for the FSM & RMI located in the Pohn Umpomp Building, Nett Municipality, Pohnpei for further information. 

IOM Micronesia
Tel.: (691) 320 – 8735/95
Website: http://micronesia.iom.int/