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This story was originally published on RNZ.co.nz and is republished with permission.
More details are emerging about the extent of the damage caused by Cyclone Harold last week in Fiji as relief supplies and food rations reach the worst affected areas of the country.
According to the National Office of Disaster Management (NDMO), one person died and 26 others were injured by the category four cyclone, which also destroyed more than 2,000 homes.
NDMO Director Vasiti Soko said Harold forced hundreds of families to flee their homes with more than 1,500 people still sheltering in evacuation centers in Fiji’s central, eastern and western divisions.
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Supplied
Devastation of Tropical Cyclone Harold in Bouwaqa Village in Vatulele, Fiji
Aid teams distributed food, shelter kits and medical supplies as they continued their disaster assessments on the remote islands.
“In the Lau group, 109 houses were destroyed and 68 partially damaged. In Kadavu, 167 houses were destroyed while 331 suffered some damage,” Soko said. “And in the western division, 228 houses were destroyed and 1,164 partially damaged,” he said.
Farms and food gardens in these areas also suffered extensive damage.
Some 60 schools in Fiji have been damaged by Cyclone Harold, according to the Ministry of Education, which said it was working on response plans for repair and reconstruction.
Authorities are also evaluating damage to classrooms and teachers’ rooms on the outer islands.
STATE OF NATURAL DISASTERS
Last week, the Fijian government declared a state of natural disaster in areas affected by the Category 4 storm.
He said that most of the roads were now open, while the water supply is working again in most of the country.
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Relief supplies, including food rations, have been dispatched to remote areas of Fiji.
Power has not yet been restored in some areas, but Energy Fiji Limited (EFL) said electricity services were expected to return to normal this weekend.
The state-owned utility company apologized for the delay, but said the complete restoration required that every meter of the power line be physically inspected and repaired where necessary, before it could be energized.
“While this process is time consuming, it is essential to ensure the security of energy supply,” said EFL.
THE EFFORT OF RELIEF CONTINUES IN THE OUTSIDE ISLANDS
Soko said the relief teams were still in Kadavu, Lau, Beqa, Yanuca and Vatulele with other NDMO officials also deployed to the Yasawas and Mamanuca groups on Thursday with relief supplies. All relief teams were subject to Covid-19 evaluation by health officials before heading to the outer islands.
Soko said that of the 2,057 houses damaged, nearly 500 were destroyed.
Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said the evacuation centers were “hygienically maintained” and would remain open to those in need.
“These families will continue to be fed and cared for until it is safe to return to their communities,” he said.
NZDF
Damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Harold in the village of Narikoso, on the island of Ono, in Kadavu.
SUPPORT FOR
This week, the Fiji National Provident Fund activated its Natural Disaster Retirement Plan and members affected by Cyclone Harold were now able to access their funds.
The scheme allowed members living in the affected areas to request $ US890 ($ NZ1480).
Chief Executive Jaoji Koroi said teams were deployed Wednesday to inspect and collect applications from those whose homes were damaged or destroyed by the storm.
Koroi said it was unfortunate that Fijians had to endure Cyclone Harold as they faced the Covid-19 pandemic.
Advisory services were also provided to those affected by the cyclone, and the teams visited Nadi, Ba, Labasa and Kadavu.
Empower Pacific CEO Patrick Morgan said many of the people they spoke to needed advice because they lost their homes, belongings and livelihoods.
Morgan said it was important for Fijians to understand that counseling provided a vital role during crises. He urged those affected to seek help and to seek help if they needed it.
INTERNATIONAL RELIEF
French Ambassador to Fiji Jean-François Fitou said a flight from New Caledonia on Monday brought five tons of humanitarian aid from Paris to help Fiji affected by Cyclone Harold.
Fitou said these include 100 family kits from 100 tents, 100 kitchen sets, 100 shelter kits and 200 20-liter drums.
Meanwhile, people living in Kadavu and Lau received $ 112,000 worth of aid from Rotary Clubs in Fiji.
Rotary also delivered emergency response kits, clothing, soaps and toothbrushes to the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) on Monday.
He said it was a coordinated effort with the NDMO and the New Zealand government.
The New Zealand Defense Force said it would deliver much-needed supplies to Nadi on Saturday, including tarps, water containers, diesel generators, chainsaws, satellite phones and hygiene supplies.
This story was originally published on RNZ.co.nz and is republished with permission.
