Ebeye, Republic of the Marshall Islands – The construction of the Emergency Operation Center (EOC) in Ebeye is currently underway, in an effort to enhance the emergency response capacity in Ebeye, the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). This is being initiated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in close coordination with the Office of Chief Secretary and Kwajalein Atoll Development Agency (KADA).

The construction of the new building, worth US$2,077,205 is part of the Japan-funded project, entitled “Enhancing Disaster and Climate Resilience in the Republic of the Marshall Islands through improved Disaster Preparedness and Infrastructure (EDCR RMI Project)”, which aims to improve the capacity for preparedness and mitigation of RMI to man-made, geo-physical and climate- related hazards and to climate change impact. 

It is expected that the new building will provide the space for the Kwajalein Atolls Disaster Committee members and the Office of the Chief Secretary in Ebeye to coordinate, collect relevant information and make critical decision for the effective disaster response for the Kwajalein Atoll and other neighboring outer islands. 

The construction is timely and critical as the government is currently without a dedicated facility which serves as a critical place to host these functions. The construction is expected to be completed by November 2023.

A ground-breaking ceremony of the Emergency Operation Center (EOC) in Ebeye was organized by the Office of Chief Secretary with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Tuesday 6 December 2022 at the construction site in Ebeye, attended by Honorable Kitlang Kabua, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Honorable Telmong J. Kabua, Executive Councilmember Kwajalein Atoll, Koon in AK Mr. Morrison James-Kabua Jr., Mr. Noriyuki Nakamura, First Secretary from the Embassy of Japan to RMI, Ms. Abacca Anjain-Maddison, Deputy Chief Secretary, Office of Chief Secretary, and Deputy Resident Representative and Country Manager for the UNDP Pacific Office in the FSM, Mr. Kevin Petrini. 

During her speech, Honorable Kitlang Kabua, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade said, “The EOC is meant to be the last building standing in the event of disaster on Ebeye, one of the most vulnerable and densely populated places in the world.  This building site is set in a strategic way, next to power plant and telecommunication center. We will comfortably serve and take care of people with these key infrastructure”. 

Mr. Noriyuki Nakamura, First Secretary from the Embassy of Japan to RMI said, “As a country that has experienced many disasters, it is a great honor for Japan to work together with UNDP through this project to improve the capacity to respond to various disasters and to climate change impacts in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. The construction of Emergency Operation Center in Ebeye is one of the biggest developments in the project, and the Embassy of Japan would like to acknowledge the efforts of all concerned over the years.”

In his remarks during the ground-breaking ceremony, Kevin Petrini, Deputy Resident Representative and Country Manager for the UNDP Pacific Office in the Federated States of Micronesia, expressed his appreciation to the Government of Japan for their generous support, which enables UNDP to work with the Government of RMI on effectively responding to emergency situations.

“In order to reflect women’s voice, we included women’s participation during the design stage of the facility. We will also continue discussions with our counterparts to make the facility inclusive of gender and people with disabilities”, Mr. Petrini added. 

The UNDP EDCR project, since its commencement in 2019, aims to strengthen gender sensitive disaster communication and climate monitoring systems, and enhance gender sensitive national and state disaster responder’s readiness capacity and better resourced to minimize loss of lives and damages.

For more information, please contact: 
Teresa White, Finance and Administrative Officer, Enhancing Disaster and Climate Resilience in the Republic of the Marshall Islands Project, UNDP Office in RMI, Tel: +(692) 455 8147, Email: teresa.white@undp.org