Fiji needs to prepare better for natural disasters: minister

SUVA, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Fiji needs to prepare better for natural disasters, Minister for agriculture and national disaster management Inia Seruiratu said here Tuesday.

The minister made the remarks at a meeting of the Pacific Resilience Disaster Response Exercise and Exchange.

Seruiratu said that with climate change, natural disasters are now more frequent and more intense.

It is of utmost importance for Fijians to use lessons learnt from previous disasters to better prepare for the future, the minister said.

He said Fiji needs to change from cultural reaction to cultural prevention when faced with disasters.

Seruiratu said the ongoing development must be sustainable and not done just for the sake of development.