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Death
toll continues to rise in Fiji as recovery begins
The
death toll from cyclone Winston now stands at 20, and it is feared
that number will rise further when communication is restored to
outlying islands, Fiji's public broadcaster says.
22
February, 2016
The
most powerful storm in the country's recorded history barrelled
into Fiji's main island of Viti Levu and neighbouring smaller
islands late
on Saturday destroying entire villages, flooding low-lying areas, and
wiping out crops.
Fiji's
public broadcaster FBC News on Monday reported
National Disaster Management Office director Akapusi Tuifagalele had
confirmed the death toll now stood at 20 - 10 of whom were killed in
the hard-hit Western Division
.
Among
them were three people who died on Viti Levu and a 97-year-old who
drowned during storm surges at the height of the storm.
Four
others were hit by flying debris and one died after a house
collapsed.
Seven
fishermen from the Yasawa Islands who went out on Friday have been
reported missing.
A
30-day state of emergency is in place across the country in the
aftermath of the cyclone.
The
settlement of Lovu, near Lautoka, is still without power or water
following Cyclone Winston. Photo: RNZ
/ Alex Perrottet
Follow
RNZ International reporter Alex Perrottet, who is in Fiji
RNZ International
A house at Lovu settlement near Lautoka, people are waiting for clean drinking water to arrive. #TCWinston
A
New Zealand Defence Force Orion has been helping with aerial
surveillance of the outer islands of Koro, Lau, Taveuni and Rabi.
The
Fiji government said the devastation of the damage to homes and other
infrastructure was enormous and a relief team comprising military
personnel, health, and rehabilitation experts was on standby to
provide relief support.
FBC
News reported more than 4000 people remained in 68
evacuation centres.
Prime
Minister Frank Bainimarama has called on all government agencies to
prioritise the deployment of their staff to these communities to
provide relief support and assistance.
He
has advised all agencies in charge of relief efforts to ensure that
all possible options are looked at to ensure that an immediate
response is provided.
The
New Zealand government yesterday made $50,000 of emergency funds and
$170,000 of relief supplies available.
Devastation
caused by Cyclone Winston to Fiji's outer islands Photo: NZ
Defence Force
Oxfam
regional director Raijeli Nicole said this morning that the
organisation had not been able to ascertain the scale of destruction
in Suva because of the curfew that remained in place, but assessments
would be taking place today.
It
was possible whole villages had been destroyed and she hoped to have
more information about the situation following a meeting in Suva, she
said.
The
biggest priorities in Fiji were around food, shelter, water and
sanitation, Miss Nicole said. "Of course it's around getting
people back on their feet."
Listen
to New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key and Oxfam's Raijeli Nicole
on RNZ National's Morning Report ( 8 min 15 sec )
In
an interview this afternoon, Oxfam regional communications specialist
Alice Clements said two boats carrying relief supplies left this
afternoon for Ovalau and Koro.
"Those
two boats will be taking medical and emergency supplies - a wide
variety of supplies. Education supplies for kids whose schools have
been destroyed and their education has been interrupted.
"We
know that, even though it seems counter-intuitive in an emergency,
getting kids back into school quickly ... is the best way to help
them recover emotionally, it's the best way to keep them safe when
their parents are focusing on the clean-up and recovery process.
"In
addition to medical supplies, we have water sanitation and hygiene
supplies, which will help to prevent the spread of disease
outbreaks."
Fiji squatter settlements badly damaged
Fiji's
People's Community Network national director Semiti Qalowasa said
many of the country's squatter settlements had been badly damaged and
thousands of people faced an uncertain future.
The
settlements are home to many of the country's poorest, where entire
families live in poorly-built huts made from basic materials like
rusted corrugated iron and tree branches.
Mr
Qalowasa said many of those who had lost their homes were now in
evacuation centres.
But
the centres weren't likely to stay open for more than a week and it
was unclear what those people would do after they closed, he said.
"These
people will always get the last support so we rely most ... [on]
donors from other countries."
Minister
for Industry, Trade and Tourism Faiyaz Koya said there were no
reports of any significant structural damage to the majority of
hotels in the main island of Viti Levu, except for some properties in
the Rakiraki area.
"We
understand that friends and families are very concerned, however, we
request everyone to remain calm. Cyclone Winston has caused extensive
damage to the communications infrastructure, hence, mobile and
Internet communications in some parts of Fiji maybe affected.
However, communication is active in Suva, Nadi, Denarau and along the
Coral Coast."
Listen
to RNZI's Sally Round on Morning Report ( 5 min 14 sec )
Flights resume in and out of Fiji
Mr
Koya said tourists in the country were safe and comfortable.
Air
New Zealand has resumed flights to and from Fiji. A spokesman for the
airline confirmed its two flights, one from Auckland to Nadi at
9.30am, and another from Nadi to Auckland at 1pm, would go ahead as
scheduled.
The
spokesman said bigger planes would be used for the flights to
increase capacity in and out of Fiji.
Fiji
Airways flights were also expected to resume today.
The
airline said it would make tourists who wanted to go home a priority.
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