The President
Palikir, Pohnpei
Federated States of Micronesia
Palikir, Pohnpei
Federated States of Micronesia
PRESIDENTIAL EMERGENCY DECLARATION NO. 2024-001
WHEREAS, El Nino was predicted to impact the Federated States of Micronesia this year;
WHEREAS, the nation has been experiencing extremely and unusually low levels of precipitation and it is anticipated that this condition will continue to intensify in the coming months;
WHEREAS, the impacts of lack of rain are causing rain catchment and rivers systems across the nation to run dry; and for the inhabitants especially in the Outer Islands who are dependent on these systems, the threat of sustained decline in water supply is causing tremendous impact upon sanitation and public health;
WHEREAS, the forecast of rainfall across FSM is already showing that the rainfall levels will continue to decrease, hence, the government must act swiftly and immediately in order to prevent any further devastation upon people, livestock, crops, and properties; and
WHEREAS, the State of Yap, State of Pohnpei and State of Chuuk have declared an emergency according to their respective state laws on the basis of the adverse effects and impacts described above.
NOW THEREFORE, I, Wesley W. Simina, President of the Federated States of Micronesia, by the authority vested in me pursuant to the Constitution and the Laws of the Federated States of Micronesia, including in particular Article X Section 9 of the FSM Constitution and 41 F.S.M.C. 705, et seq., hereby declare, direct and decree as follows:
1. The Government hereby declares a national emergency; as such, the resources of the National Government are committed to supplement the available resources using foreign assistance, and such domestic resources as are needed, subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
2. The National Emergency Task Force (the "Task Force") is immediately constituted to take immediate steps and to act as required pursuant to the emergency and shall systematically develop a plan to alleviate or mitigate the adverse effects of the emergency, determine the most effective manner in addressing the emergency situation given the limited available resources of the National Government, and take such immediate steps to support relief efforts and citizens severely impacted by the emergency.
3. The Task Force shall be headed by the Secretary of the Department of Environment, Climate Change, and Emergency Management (DECEM), and assisted by all the Cabinet Members in the Executive Branch. The Task Force is mandated to implement such immediate measures as are necessary to contain the damage caused by the persistent drought and closely monitor the vulnerable population especially in the outer islands.
4. The Disaster Relief Fund under Sub-Chapter II Chapter 6 Title 55 of the FSM Code, the Disaster Assistance Emergency Fund in accordance with the Amended Compact, and other emergency- related funds available are activated to be used to assist, support, and supplement the National and State relief efforts.
5. The competitive bidding required in the Financial Management Act and Regulation, to the extent otherwise applicable to any government procurement, and the import tax for purchases and donations in connection with procurements relating to the declared emergency, are hereby waived as long as the emergency declaration persists.
6. The Task Force is mandated to coordinate with State authorities in implementing any emergency response and keep the President timely informed of any progress or development relating thereto.
7. In accordance with the emergency declaration, $1, 288, 824 is hereby decreed into the Disaster Relief Fund. The decreed amount shall be sourced from the existing appropriation of the same amount under Section 9 (1 l)(g) of Public Law No. 23-46. Additional funds may be decreed at a later time. Decreed funds may be allocated to individual states according to their respective needs as approved by the President. Allotment shall be issued according to the approved allocation.
8. Procurement of any goods used in foreign aid project relating to the emergency shall be exempt from import tax pursuant to 54 F.S.M.C. §222. State authorities and agencies are urged to waive any port charges, including wharfage, freight and other fees and charges in connection with the transport of relief equipment, supplies and materials needed by or relating to the emergency.
