A three-day workshop on contingency planning and response to disasters has taken place in Samoa, beginning on 30 November, and ending on 2 December, reports Scoop. According to Mulipola Ausetalia Titimaea, the Acting CEO for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, "the Samoa Contingency Planning Workshop for Humanitarian Assistance is a good moment to reflect on lessons learned from disaster preparedness, response and recovery work undertaken. As was evident from the relief and early recovery operations following the September 2009 tsunami in Samoa, that investments made in disaster preparedness and risk reduction paid off and prevented much worse human suffering and economic loss."