Cyclone Winston – Asia Pacific Report

Back-to-back cyclones in Vanuatu – stories of survival in ‘tough go’

APR editor — Mon, 06 Mar 2023 06:55:39 +0000

By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist

People in Vanuatu remain optimistic about their future after two destructive cyclones in two days left parts of the Pacific nation in ruins.

Authorities are yet to determine the full scale of the damage caused by the back-to-back severe tropical cyclones Judy and Kevin.

But those who had to endure the worst of the natural disasters last week believe demonstrating resilience is their only option.

“To have had two category four cyclones in less than a week is history in itself,” Vanuatu’s only female Member of Parliament, Gloria Julia King, told RNZ Pacific.

“[It’s] something that even the elders in our families haven’t seen before.”

She said her island nation has had its fair share of severe weather events, highlighting the destruction caused by Cyclone Pam in 2015 from which the country has still not fully recovered.

“A lot of our schools are still in makeshift classrooms, [children] still sitting on the floor without desks and chairs.”

Hopeful over challenges
But she is hopeful that the ni-Vanuatu people will get through the challenges in front of them.

“I have seen Vanuatu come back from Pam, I’ve seen Vanuatu come back from Harold, and I am positive Vanuatu will be able to bounce back from Kevin,” King said.

A property flattened in Port Vila following the wrath of Tropical Cyclone Judy followed by TC Kevin. Image: Shiva Gounden/RNZ Pacific

The country was hit by a category 4 TC Judy first on March 3, but just as people started to pick up the pieces, they had to rush to evacuation centres the following day as Kevin arrived as a category 3, intensifying to a category 4 and then reaching 5 over open water.

“People [were] carrying people with disabilities on their back to an evacuation building,” Greenpeace Australia Pacific’s advisor Shiva Gounden, who is in the capital Port Vila, said.

He said three to four families huddled in homes while properties around them were being wiped out.

“Roads are completely blocked or flooded. There’s no access for anyone to leave the village for any type of emergencies.”

‘No power, no water’
“There’s no power. There’s no water,” he added.

Gounden was in a village on Efate island helping people prepare for TC Kevin when it hit with a force much more violent than anyone was prepared for, he told RNZ Pacific.

He had to hold the doors of the house he was residing in for almost 10 hours in shin high water to remain safe.

“It was extremely strong,” he said, describing Kevin’s ferocity.

“I’ve seen and responded to several cyclones in my life and I felt Kevin was as strong as Cyclone Winston which wiped out Fiji.”

“I was trying to hold my door from 5pm till about 3am. I was using all my [strength] with my hands and my back and my legs to try and hold the door because if I didn’t, it would snap. There was water everywhere,” he said.

‘It’s a tough go for many’, says Vanuatu journalist
Vanuatu journalist Dan McGarry, who has been on the frontlines documenting the disaster, visited vulnerable communities in the aftermath.

Taila Moses and her son Tom stand in front of what was once their home of 16 years. Countless houses in informal communities such as hers were damaged or destroyed. Cyclones dole put their damage indiscriminately, but society’s most vulnerable feel it more than anyone else. pic.twitter.com/cXBDuznMTz

— Dan McGarry (@dailypostdan) March 5, 2023

He said people were living in “impromptu housing” in various parts of Port Vila.

“What I found was quite disturbing,” he said.

“It’s becoming obvious that the increasing reliance on a cash economy is creating inequalities in terms of people’s ability to cope with this kind of disaster cycle.”

McGarry said informal settlements up on the hillside in the capital were covered with clothing lines because everything had been soaked.

“There were tarpaulins pulled across roofs to provide some sort of temporary shelter.”

He has spoken with several residents and shared the story of one woman who has lost everything.

“She has no livelihood at the moment because her employer, of course, isn’t calling her into work,” he said.

“She’s lost everything and she is without the means to return it. It’s a tough, tough go for a great many people here in Port Vila,” he explained.

Hundreds of people in Vanuatu’s capital Port Vila have been evacuated after TC Judy which was followed just a day later by a second cyclone, TC Kevin. Image: Hilaire Bule/RNZ Pacific

Climate crisis issue
Climate crisis is front of mind for Ni-Vanuatu residents as they start to rebuild.

“[Climate change] turns what used to be sort of periodical issues for Pacific island nations into chronic ones,” he said.

“In this case, we’ve had two severe cyclones in the course of a week an as New Zealanders have seen these weather systems are moving further south.”

He believes development partners of the Pacific cannot afford to walk away; a sentiment echoed by Gounden.

“We have the most resilient people, but there is a deep hurt that is within us,” Gounden said.

He said the “the hurt” stems from fossil fuels being burned across the world which exacerbates climate change.

“The people of the Pacific contribute the least to climate change, yet we face the greatest consequences of it all.”

“The biggest thing we can do is pressure world leaders right now to phase out [the use of fossil fuels.”

Meanwhile, Australia, France and New Zealand have been the first to send support to assist with emergency response.

“We will appreciate any help we can get,” King said.

“The biggest challenge now is just getting power and water back into full circuit around the country.”

Taking off for Vanuatu with assistance following TC Judy & TC Kevin. Australia has a rapid assessment team in Vanuatu & is delivering shelters & other items for communities.

We stand with the Pacific family #YugetaYumiStrong pic.twitter.com/IGYVrchew9

— Pat Conroy MP (@PatConroy1) March 5, 2023

Rebuilding post-eruption Tonga: 4 key lessons from Fiji after Cyclone Winston

APR editor — Sat, 05 Feb 2022 07:17:11 +0000

ANALYSIS: By Suzanne Wilkinson, Mohamed Elkharboutly and Regan Potangaroa, Massey University

While news from Tonga is still disrupted following the massive undersea eruption and tsunami on January 15, it’s clear the island nation has suffered significant damage to housing stock and infrastructure.

Once initial clean-up work is done, the focus then turns to rebuilding — specifically, how to rebuild in a way that makes that housing and infrastructure stronger, safer and more resilient than before the disaster.

This is where the United Nations’ Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction comes into the picture. It advocates for:

The substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health and in the economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets of persons, businesses, communities and countries.

Beyond the framework, however, we have the lessons learned from previous disasters and recovery efforts in the same region — notably what happened in Fiji after Cyclone Winston in 2016.

These lessons can be applied to the Tonga rebuild.

A devastated Nasau Village on Koro Island, Fiji, in the wake of Cyclone Winston. Image: UNICEF

Lessons from Cyclone Winston
Winston was a category 5 cyclone, one of the most powerful storms ever recorded in the South Pacific. When it approached Fiji’s largest and most populated island, Viti Levu, winds reached 230 km/h, with gusts peaking at 325km/h.

Over 60 percent of the Fijian population was affected, with around 131,000 people left homeless. The cyclone destroyed, significantly damaged or partially damaged around 30,000 homes, or 22 percent of households, representing the greatest loss to Fiji’s housing stock from a single event.

Notably, some models of the traditional Fijian bure survived the cyclone with minor or no damage.

Our research team from New Zealand followed and recorded the housing recovery. What we found could benefit Tonga as it faces reconstruction of so much housing stock.

As in Tonga, power, infrastructure and communication systems in Fiji were extensively damaged. Given that “building back better” involves applying higher structural standards than existed previously, we looked for evidence that Fiji was rebuilding in a more resilient and sustainable way.

Fiji carefully recorded and analysed data, employing systematic reconnaissance surveys and damage assessments to identify building performance, structural vulnerabilities and failure mechanisms, as well as community needs.

These assessments were done well, to international standards.

Understandably, Fijians were also aware of the need to reduce risks to housing from future cyclones. After the immediate post-cyclone humanitarian response, housing was their main concern. This became a key focus for government agencies as a way of demonstrating the recovery was under way and that communities were at the heart of the process.

A traditional bure in Navala village, Viti Levu – some survived the cyclone well. Image: Author

Problems with rebuilding
We studied two main initiatives: a government-funded rebuilding programme for houses (the “Help For Homes Initiative”) and the rebuilding programmes led by various international and local NGOs.

Help For Homes provided credit for construction materials to people who had lost homes, assuming recipients met certain criteria related to household income, damage and location.

Communities were free to choose the basic type of dwelling, its interior design, external features and materials. Information and instructions about building best practices and standards were provided, but technical or practical support was limited.

Overall, the initiative had mixed reviews. On the one hand, people had autonomy over their future homes; if things went to plan, they liked the outcome. On the other, lack of building skills led to some poor-quality construction, and limited resources (mainly materials) pushed costs up.

A lack of suitable alternative building material also created problems. Material choice, material substitution, resource costs, low community technical expertise and low building standard knowledge are all issues Tonga might also face.

Some homeowners were left without the material they needed, and in some cases with only a partially rebuilt home.

The NGO rebuilding programmes, by contrast, usually employed their skilled workers to build and supervise construction activities, often with the help of community labour. But again, reviews were mixed, especially when the communities didn’t have sufficient input into the rebuilding process.

While housing design was largely standardised for quick construction, the NGO houses tended to be technically strong and more resilient to future hazard events.

A timber house on elevated foundations, built to the owner’s design without technical support. Image: The Conversation/Author

The best of both worlds
The main lesson was that high levels of community involvement and strong technical support were key to building resilient, future-proofed houses. For Tonga, the Fijian experience offers the opportunity to apply that lesson in four principal ways:

ensure the initial assessment process is thorough and up to international standards
recognise that housing stock overall needs to improve, and commit to higher construction standards
analyse local architecture and building practices for disaster-resistant features
combine the best of government-led and NGO building systems to maximise community involvement while ensuring good technical support and building expertise.

Overall, to have the best chance of rebuilding with the resilience to withstand future shocks, Tonga will benefit greatly from a three-way partnership between the government, NGOs and local communities.

As advocated by the authors in their book Resilient Post-Disaster Recovery through Building Back Better, co-ordination of such partnerships should be government-led and include trusted local community leaders and a consortium of NGOs.

The authors acknowledge the collaboration of Diocel Harold Aquino (Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, University of the Philippines) and Sateesh Kumar Pisini (Principal Lecturer in Civil Engineering, Fiji National University) in the preparation of this article.

Dr Suzanne Wilkinson is professor of construction management at Massey University; Dr Mohamed Elkharboutly is lecturer in built environment at Massey University, and Dr Regan Potangaroa is professor of resilient and sustainable buildings (Māori engagement) at Massey University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article.

Connecting the dots – Pacific disasters, cyclones, climate featured in latest PJR

Pacific Journalism Review — Fri, 20 Jul 2018 06:04:44 +0000

Pacific Media Centre Newsdesk

“Rob” flooding in the Indonesian city of Semarang, Cyclone Winston’s devastation and social media in Fiji and “backpack journalism” in Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines are among many issues featured in the latest Pacific Journalism Review.

This is the second edition of the New Zealand-based media research journal focused on climate change and global warming.

The first, published year, featured the Fiji and Pacific leadership at COP23 with a series of research papers.

Pacific Journalism Review 24(1)

This latest edition, published next week, is timely as the Pacific faces increasingly extreme and more frequent weather onslaughts.

Indonesian academics Dr Hermin Indah Wahyuni, Andi Awaluddin Fitrah and Fitri Handayani along with the Pacific Media Centre’s director, Professor David Robie, offer a comparative study on social adaptation to maritime disaster between Java and Fiji in a collaboration with the Centre for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS) at the Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta.

Another CESASS colleague, Dr Budi Irawanto, presents a paper on narratives of natural disaster survivors in Indonesian media.

The edition is also a collaboration with the University of the South Pacific whose Dr Shailendra Singh and Professor Vijay Naidu analyse the coverage of extreme weather in Pacific nations.

Post-disaster recovery
Dr Amanda Gearing of the Queensland University of Technology argues the case for a state-sponsored post-disaster recovery scheme and Monash journalism academic Dr Johan Lidberg offers a comparative study of Australian media coverage of COPs 15 and 21.

USP’s Glen Finau and colleagues analyse social media and disaster communication, Auckland University’s Norman Zafra analyses convergent technologies in disaster journalism while Unitec’s Dr Philip Cass assesses “a plan nobody hopes they will need” – what New Zealand needs to do about climate change migration and the future.

Dr Robie provides a case study of Bearing Witness 2017, the second year of a Pacific climate change storytelling project in Fiji that has produced dynamic and inspiring results.

Among unthemed articles, Dr Catherine Strong of Massey presents findings from a NZ women newspaper editors study and Steve Ellmers of Unitec offers a “tale of two statues” in Baghdad.

Two obituaries of two remarkable New Zealand journalists, investigative reporter and editor Pat Booth (profiled by A Moral Truth author Dr James Hollings) and Yasmine Ryan (penned by Evening Report editor Selwyn Manning) are also featured by PJR.

The journal has a strong review section including The General’s Goose on coup-struck Fiji, A Region in Transition, Grappling With The Bomb, “And there’ll be NO dancing” and After Charlie Hebdo.

This edition has been co-edited by Professor David Robie and Khairiah A. Rahman (AUT), Dr Hermin Indah Wahyuni and Dr Vissia Ita Yulianto (CESASS-UGM), Dr Philip Cass (Unitec) and Dr Shailendra Singh (USP).

Papers from the edition are available online at AUT’s Tuwhera platform.

Destruction and construction – Tukuraki’s lonely story of survival

PMC Reporter — Tue, 09 May 2017 02:39:16 +0000

Tukuraki after the landslide … video by Julie Cleaver.

In January 2012, a small Fijian village on Viti Levu was almost wiped off the map by a deadly landslide. In the same year, the barely recovered village of Tukuraki was hit by Cyclone Evan. Four years later, Tukuraki was devastated once again by the wrath of Tropical Cyclone Winston, scattering the community far and wide across the northwest of the island. The inland village near Ba is now in the process of relocating to a new site. The Pacific Media Centre’s Kendall Hutt and Julie Cleaver travelled to the remote village to find out how the people are adapting.

By Kendall Hutt and Julie Cleaver

Vilimaina Botitu was fast asleep when the earth from a nearby hill tumbled down, burying her uncle’s house in mud, trees, and rock.

Her small Fijian village of just 10 houses, located in the mountainous highlands of Ba, Viti Levu, had been pummelled by rain for a week prior to the landslide in January 2012.

The people of Tukuraki are no strangers to heavy downpours — even as we sit cross-legged on a flax-weaved mat in Botitu’s new temporary home, located just 10km away from the old village, the rain moves in quickly and heavily, seemingly out of nowhere.

But on the day of the landslide, Botitu knew something was wrong.

“I begged Uncle Anare to bring his family to stay with me, because where I live it is safe,” she tells us through tears. “But he didn’t listen. He just said, ‘If God thinks it is my time to go, then I am okay with that.’”

Botitu tells us the ridge behind her uncle’s house was unstable, as it had unknowingly been destabilised by the removal of pine trees from a nearby timber farm above. She says the hill near her place was made of rock and therefore less likely to slip.

Flashback to January 2012: Mud and rock buried Tukuraki village, killing Anare Taligo and his family. Image: Janet Lotawa/Rise Beyond The Reef

Despite this, Uncle Anare was reluctant to move his family to sleep at her house, and that night he, his wife, and two daughters, aged just only six months old and a year-and-a-half, were buried alive in their sleep.

Access to the village via the road was wiped out in the fatal landslide, as was the community’s path to fresh water. The villagers of Tukuraki were subsequently cut-off from the outside world for three days and left to recover the bodies of Anare Taligo and his family themselves.

Tukuraki villagers use their bare hands … to recover the bodies of the Taligo family. Image: The Fiji Times

“It was very hard because there was no machine to help us … so they were struggling to take out the bodies.”

Botitu was in shock. It was hard to imagine that just a few hours ago, she was drinking grog with her uncle, having a good time.

“You know, it was family time, teasing each other, laughing at each other, having fun.”

Now, she was staring at the Taligo’s home, completely covered by mud and rock.

“I didn’t know what to do,” she tells us through tears.

Girls walked to safety
In a grief-filled daze and to keep her two daughters safe, Botitu walked her girls to a nearby cave to take shelter, half-an-hour away from the village. She then rushed back to the village to help the elders who were left behind. Once the bodies of the Taligo family had been recovered, it was Botitu who volunteered to wash them and prepare them for burial.

Tukuraki villagers recover the body of one of the landslide’s victims … “I didn’t know what to do”. Image: The Fiji Times

“The first body out of the mud was their mother. I washed the mother, but we couldn’t see her face. It was black and the tongue was popping out. The two daughters – the eldest one, she was smashed on the head, and the small one, it’s just like she’s sleeping.

“Then at 1.30pm, they took out the father’s body. The father — there were not even any clothes on the body. His hands were covering his ears, I thought maybe for the thunder storm, but his body was good. So I washed them properly, then lay them down in the hall.”

The landslide not only destroyed 50 percent of the village, but also left the community traumatised. Botitu tells us, as we struggle to hold in our own tears, that after the burial ceremony the small village of 10 houses was in shock. It was a sleepless and fearful night for the people of Tukuraki.

“It took me three months for the smell of their bodies to go away, because during the time I bathed them, I didn’t have any gloves. I didn’t use any protection.”

Today, the pain of losing her Uncle, Aunty-in-law and nieces is still fresh.

“When I go to Tukuraki [the old village] I can’t stay there for very long. Every time I go there, as soon as I reach the village, it’s too hard. It brings back too many memories.”

Relocation decision
Due to such damage and loss, the Fijian government made the decision to relocate the Tukuraki community soon after the landslide. This was a unique move, as the past three relocations to take place in Fiji — Vunidogoloa village in the province of Cakaudrove, Yadua in Bua province, and the partial relocation of Vunisavisavi village, also in Cakaudrove — have all taken place due to rising sea levels caused by climate change.

Tukuraki is therefore the first relocation to take place inland.

In early 2014, the site for the new Tukuraki village was gifted to the community by a neighbouring clan. But for the villagers, who were living in makeshift shelters made out of what the landslide left behind, tragedy would strike again only 11 months later, when Cyclone Evan, a category four tropical cyclone, struck them.

Gifted by a neighbouring clan…relocation site provides new hope for Tukuraki villagers. Image: Fiji National Disaster Management Office

Cyclone Evan wiped out what homes and belongings had been salvaged from the landslide at their temporary site, a few kilometres down the road, and also destroyed more of Tukuraki’s livelihood — its crops.

“This place, there’s no working, we just do the farming and sell in the market,” Botitu says.

But despite being in the midst of relocating to a new site, climate change was not quite done with Tukuraki just yet. In 2016 severe Tropical Cyclone Winston destroyed what remained of the small mountainous village. The caves, which had kept Botitu’s daughters safe following the landslide, were the residents of Tukuraki’s only shelter from the wrath of Winston.

“We had a very hard time after the cyclone because everything we owned was lost,” Botitu explains.

Salvaged belongings
What belongings she managed to salvage now sit in boxes in her temporary home. The villagers crops, consisting of vegetables and fruit trees, were once again ruined.

“We used to sit under the mango trees and drink grog,” Botitu reflects, “we led a simple life, but we were rich.”

Six years on from the fatal landslide, the forest and a broken church are all that remain of Tukuraki. But as the buildings of the relocated village near completion, there is hope: the displaced community will have the chance to come together again, something Botitu is looking forward to.

Left: The location of Tukuraki village roughly 60km from Lautoka on Viti Levu island (above). Maps: Google

Old Tukuraki village … invisible from the road. Image: Julie Cleaver/PMC

“It gets very lonely up here, with just your family and construction workers around.”

For George Dregaso, project manager of the relocation, seeing the villagers return to a normal way of life is what motivates him.

“I just want to see them become a community again. That’s what really drives me.”

However, the relocation and adapting to climate change has not been an easy journey. Although the people of Tukuraki are grateful for the relocation, the process has been long and gruelling.

“It happened in 2012 and now it’s 2017. For that long period of time we have had to struggle.

“It’s been very challenging for us. It’s taken a very long time.”

Significant setbacks
The relocation project was meant to be completed in November 2016, but has faced significant setbacks due to a shortage of building supplies following Cyclone Winston. Dregaso says the lack of materials is not unique to the project, but “endemic to Fiji as a whole”.

“But we’ve researched and found more building materials.”

The project is now due to be completed in July this year, ending six years of limbo for the Tukuraki community. Sadly, the new village is not without its drawbacks. The relocated village site is mostly bare and Botitu says this is the hardest part about leaving Tukuraki behind.

“The old Tukuraki, it was a nice village. The relocated site just gives us a place to sleep. There is no place to do the farming.”

Relocated Tukuraki village … “just a place to sleep”. Image: Kendall Hutt/PMC

This means the villagers have to walk approximately 10km across hilly ground to get to their old crops. As we stand on a hill overlooking the site with Dregaso, it is easy to understand Botitu’s disappointment. All of the houses bar one have been completed and the Methodist church is yet to be built, and there are no trees in sight.

Strands of grass are barely visible against the red-brown clay, and the only way to traverse the village easily is in gumboots, which were kindly donated to us by a couple of the contractors.

The lone house….and the Methodist Church are yet to be built. Image: Kendall Hutt/PMC

The only consolation seems to be that the villagers now have access to clean, running water, flushable toilets, showers, and shelter from future storms. The community hall, which doubles as an evacuation centre, can withstand a category five cyclone, meaning the villagers will no longer be forced to take shelter in the caves.

If the reinforcement of the evacuation centre is anything to go by, it is certain the people of Tukuraki, and indeed people across the Pacific, will continue to face head-on the effects of a warming planet.

800 communities hit by climate change
Fiji’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that approximately 800 communities within the country have been affected by climate change. In the Pacific alone, the London School of Economics estimates 1.7 million people could be displaced by 2050.

For Fiji’s main island, Viti Levu, home to the village of Tukuraki, the impacts of climate change are expected to cause economic damages of up to F$52 million (NZ$35.7 million) a year. That is four percent of the country’s total gross domestic product.

For Tukuraki, the everyday, ongoing effects of climate change are visible. “It shouldn’t be raining now,” Botitu comments.

Vilimaina Botitu’s children Siti and Maya … sleeping in the heat of the day, while eldest daughter Kinisimere watches over them. Image: Julie Cleaver/PMC

She highlights that evenings are hotter than they used to be, meaning her family eats and sleeps later: their lifestyle is changing. Also, every time it rains, the roads are washed out and unusable: if the villagers are not busy in the fields, they are working on the road. As we drove in we passed Botitu’s husband and several other men busy at work on the road, and as the truck’s tires continued to spin uselessly in the loose gravel, it is easy to see why.

Even at lunch, as we sit eating soup filled with noodles, pumpkin, potato, bacon and spinach, surrounded by the contractors, we were warned by Dregaso: “If we don’t leave now, we’ll have to stay the night, maybe for a couple of nights, would you girls be happy with that?”

Hot soup and cassava … with the workers welcome. Image: Julie Cleaver/PMC

We left promptly after that and were confronted by a grader and steam roller on the way out. For two city girls from New Zealand, this was a shock, but for the people of Tukuraki, it’s a normal, daily occurrence. It makes the difficulty of accessing the village all the more challenging.

Dregaso tells us that only a month ago Tukuraki was inaccessible for almost three weeks.

Coming across a grader and steam roller … common sight for the villagers of Tukuraki. Image: Julie Cleaver/PMC

Because of this all, the contractors are forced to live on-site, and if it was not for Dregaso bringing up much-needed supplies, such as bags brimming with food and large fuel cans, both the villagers and contractors would be forced to live off what little crops remain.

Without project manager George Dregaso’s food supplies … work would grind to a halt. Image: Kendall Hutt/PMC

For Fiji, a giant question mark looms over the future of climate change relocations. Potentially 45 villages have been earmarked for relocation, although Fiji’s Climate Change Unit says this number is not final. These relocations are also not expected to occur within the next five to 10 years.

A source from the Ministry of Economy’s Climate Change Unit says: “I doubt it. Relocation is a long process and quite expensive.”

The source says the Fijian government therefore cannot realistically afford to complete all of these relocations. “It can only be possible with the help of donor funds, financial institutions, and co-finance with the community itself.”

In Fiji, climate change is not coming, it is already there. For Vilimaina Botitu and the community of Tukuraki, global warming is not an idea: it is a lived and daily experience. When asked if she was mad at industrialised countries for changing her way of life, Botitu had no anger, only sadness: “I pray to God that climate change will stop.”

Vilimaina Botitu, her four children – Siti, Maya, Vasemaca, and Kinisimere – and aunty Uliamila Matalau … “pray to God climate change will stop”. Image: Kendall Hutt/PMC

Julie Cleaver and Kendall Hutt are in Fiji for the Bearing Witness project. A collaborative venture between the University of the South Pacific’s journalism programme, the Pacific Centre for the Environment and Sustainable Development (PaCE-SD), the Auckland University of Technology’s Pacific Media Centre and documentary collective Te Ara Motuhenga, Bearing Witness seeks to provide an alternative framing of climate change, focusing on resilience and human rights.

Village relocation provides new hope for Fiji’s devastated Tukuraki

Fiji needs better urban planning to reduce climate change impact, says researcher

PMC Reporter — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 11:25:32 +0000

By Julie Cleaver and Kendall Hutt in Suva

The effects of climate change on vulnerable areas throughout Fiji could be reduced if the island nation adopts several more land planning measures, says a local researcher.

Speaking at a Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development (PaCE-SD) seminar today about “Disaster Risk Reduction from a Physical Planning Perspective: Fiji”, Joeli Varo, a Lands Officer for the government’s Sustainable Land Use Planning and Development Unit, says there are two ways in which Fiji can both mitigate and adapt to flooding.

These involve “hard measures” such as sea walls and “soft measures” such as ensuring compliance with building regulations.

“I would say we need a combination of both, because in our urban areas they need hard structures — they need sea walls because we cannot do soft measures in those areas. We cannot plant trees, we cannot retreat, we cannot relocate, and we just have to implement hard measures,” he said.

“For rural area settings, there is still room for relocation and retreat. We can apply soft measures there.”

Varo, who completed a Master of Science degree in urban and regional planning, said moving inland was one of the most viable options for alleviating the effects of climate change in Fiji.

Communities at risk
Varo said this was because coastal areas were more vulnerable to being hit by tropical cyclones, compared to inland areas due to infrastructure not complying with building regulations.

This was because houses on the foreshore were required to be a certain distance from sources of water, such as the ocean and rivers. Houses also required a certain size area of grass in order to absorb excess water.

Rural communities and coastal areas were therefore the most severely affected by floodwaters.

“As the result of flooding, stagnant water causes unpleasant smells to linger, pollution in streams and creeks, and a decline in the subsequent quality of drinking water.”

Varo highlighted the impacts of Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston, which devastated Fiji early last year, leaving 44 people dead and 45,000 displaced.

He also said Cyclone Winston represented a growing trend in the Pacific where small island nations were facing extreme weather with greater frequency, intensity and magnitude.

“It’s intensifying and it’s getting bigger in magnitude. We’ve seen an increase from category one to category three, and just recently in 2016 it was category five — imagine that? That is the worst in the South Pacific.”

Higher damage costs
The cost of damage caused by such weather was something that needed to be considered, Varo added.

Data from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) quoted by Varo revealed damage caused by Severe Tropical Cyclone Evan in late 2012 paled in comparison with those of Winston.

Cyclone Evan cost the Fijian government F$75.29 million (NZ$49.68 million), whereas Winston cost a staggering F$1.99 billion (NZ$1.37 billion).

“They’re getting intensified and the magnitude and cost in US dollars is tremendous, from millions to billions. So for small island states such as Fiji, we cannot control this, it’s coming. We just have to mitigate and adapt to these changes and natural phenomena.”

A Suva seawall … the responsibility of tackling climate change effects “lies with both the community and the government”. Image: Julie Cleaver/PMC

Varo said tackling such “natural phenomena” at the urban planning level had a flow-on effect which reduced the impact of extreme weather events on communities in the Pacific.

He said the responsibility of tackling climate change effects lay with both the community and the government.

“We need to work together in this digital era. We need people, because people define policy. Without the people there is no use for policy. So public participation is much more needed for collaboration with civil society and private stakeholders.”

However, he says this will not change the inevitable.

‘We just have to adapt’
“We cannot stop climate change – bear that in mind. Climate change is coming and no one can stop it. We just have to adapt and mitigate so that our urban areas are resilient to these undesirable forces, like increasing sea levels. We just have to adapt, instead of retreat.”

Varo planned to head to the Caribbean to continue his research into climate change and begin his doctorate.

He said the Caribbean was feeling the effects of climate change in a similar way to the Pacific.

“Unlike New Zealand and Australia that are continental islands, for us Small Island Developing States we need to collaborate among ourselves to save us in the future.

“We are looking up to Australia and New Zealand as our older brothers, to help us small islands collaboratively come together and plan for the next 10 to 15 years.”

Julie Cleaver of the Bearing Witness project interviews planning researcher Joeli Varo in Suva today. Image: Kendall Hutt/PMC

Biman Prasad: COP23 presidency — facing the gravity of the task for Fiji

APR editor — Sun, 15 Jan 2017 02:26:28 +0000

ANALYSIS: By Professor Biman Prasad

It has been interesting to read about Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama’s intentions on COP23 (Conference of Parties 23) in his 2017 new-year message. This seems to have beeen the first “official” comment on the COP23 presidency which has thus far been shrouded in secrecy.

The narrative
It is noteworthy that there was no communications or consultations nationally, regionally or internationally as Fiji lobbied to get the presidency for COP23 in Marrakesh. Even our fellow members of the Pacific and SIDS (Small Islands Developing States) were caught unaware.

A robust consultation nationally would have helped government appreciate the gravity of the task which Fiji as a nation was committing to, both in terms of the costs of undertaking this and our capacity to do so.

Coming straight after Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston, as many of our citizens are still struggling to get their lives together, a legitimate question is whether this should be really our priority. This has been further exacerbated by the recent revelation of over F$11 million costs because of the recent floods.

Does the government have the resources for accepting such an extravagant international agenda, when nationally it is in dire need of resources to assist with the recent disasters?

The government should be open and reveal details such as the expected costs and arrangements of hosting both the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) COP23 and the Oceans Conference and the cost of consultants if any. Aren’t these fundamental values; openness, transparency, inclusiveness in the UN ways of doing things?

It is extraordinary that Fiji has opted to take the leadership on two of the most important issues on the international agenda for 2017. The taxpayers of this country have a right to know how much of their money is being spent on these commitments, especially when the wealthier members of the Asia-Pacific group opted not to take on this responsibility.

The PM talked effusively about his “need” to travel the world and host pre-COP meetings. This comes at a significant cost to the nation when the leader of our executive branch takes (not seeks) approval by way of a New Year’s message, to traipse all over the world.

Fundamentally, citizens and taxpayers of this country, must to be consulted extensively on what positions we are taking on many of the vexed issues within the climate change and oceans agenda with a clear view in mind of the benefits to us or in economic terms, the return on investment. After all it is still unclear what tangible benefits we derived from the chairmanship of the G77 and recently the SBI within the UNFCCC.

Now that Fiji has cajoled the UN membership into taking on this huge privilege and responsibility for the COP23 presidency, the National Federation Party will advocate that this critical issue of climate change and environmental leadership is only possible through genuine and meaningful partnership, backed by a strong track record at the national level.

As members of the Opposition, we will strongly advocate for transparency in multilateral environmental negotiations that should, in the first instance, be taken to the people’s house for robust debate and scrutiny

We offer the following observations.

COPs: Unravelling

The ‘technicalese’
It is widely recognised that COP23 will be a “technical” COP where work on the “rule book” for implementing the Paris Agreement will continue. We also know that the technical capacity within government is extremely limited.

Does the Climate Change Unit, now situated in Ministry of Economy have the required expertise to deal with this issue? Perhaps the Prime Minister’s office and the Ministry of Economy should consider where the Climate Change Unit should be based, given the COP23 will be handled by the PM’s office.

It becomes manifestly evident that the move of climate change to the Ministry of Economy is with one objective in mind — to access global climate change funds. If this is the mind-set which is the driver of our engagement at these negotiations, it is a zero sum game.

The much lauded Green Growth framework that was echoed at the PIDF (Pacific Islands Development Forum) and again in the 2016/2017 Budget supplement remains glaringly non-existent at the implementation level. High-level narratives can no longer cut it.

The strength of our participation in our negotiating bloc AOSIS (Alliance of Small Island States), which corralled the world into the acceptance of the 1.5 degree benchmark has been because of the strength and exceptionalism of our technical arguments, driven by our environment ministries and their performance on our reporting obligations.

All of which were based on science and research. It isn’t the cutting edge science alone that won these debates, but rather the ingenuity of our technical specialists in putting forward suggestions that AOSIS members had to work with, based on our limitations.

Over the years, Fiji’s contributions in the negotiations has been almost non-visible as is evident from the lack of communications to UNFCCC Secretariat on matters seeking parties’ views, the dearth of Fiji participants taking the lead on any of the technical issues on behalf of AOSIS (in spite of a delegation size of over 40 — one of the highest from any developing country!) and our abysmal record in terms of fulfilling our reporting obligations under the UNFCCC. The fact that Fiji’s INDC report, supported by off-shore technical assistance reached the UNFCCC late, is telling.

Fiji cannot claim to be impoverished by a lack of intellect on climate change. There are many individuals, civil societies and institutions who are experts on climate change and multilateral environmental fora and who would only be willing to provide assistance, if they are politely requested to.

Indeed, if the mantra of this government on trade is to “Buy Fiijan Made”, this should surely also extend to our local knowledge and expertise that we should be aggressively promoting if we are sincere about COP23 being Fijian made.

That being said, being completely inclusive does not ensure sincerity.

The genesis of the PIDF, another publicly assisted body that is yet to show any tangible benefit at the ground level, was advocated for by certain IGOs. It remains to be seen how taxpayers paying about $100,000 for parking for the PIDF complex a few years ago, has added any real value to our people.

If citizens and taxpayers are subjected to a COP23 presidency that is held up by publicly funded offshore contractors with no obligation or commitment to Fiji, and whose ultimate interests and agendas leave us wide open and vulnerable as a COP president, the zero sum game then becomes riddled with added vulnerabilities that our people then become liable for.

A genuine SIDS presidency by Fiji is possible but it can only be meaningful if we reach out to involve our AOSIS family. It would be important to define the key issues that our COP23 presidency will promote.

This is a great opportunity to bring to the top of the climate agenda the specific issues of small island states. Clearly the identification of these issues should be done through inclusive consultations nationally, sub-regionally, regionally as well as with our fellow members of the AOSIS.

Paris Agreement
The Paris Agreement recognises the participation of the civil society and the private sector as vital to the goal of implementing the Paris agenda. The government needs to reach out to the civil society groups and the business sector in an open, transparent process where these can contribute meaningfully to the process.

Fiji should begin by signing the Doha amendment to the Kyoto Protocol and lobby to have this ratified so tangible actions are taken by countries for the next three to four years before the Paris Agreement comes into effect.

Given the PM’s stated goal to get the industrialised nations to reduce the emissions, and the concerns that the current commitments would lead to nearly 30C temperature rise, actions taken before 2020 will be vital in our attempts to reduce global emissions. The Doha amendment will require these countries to take pre-2020 actions according to the Kyoto Protocol commitments.

These are not new ideas, the whole world is aware of the changes that need to take place, and industrialised nations continue to lag behind.

What will make Fiji’s COP 23 presidency different where decades of international pressure has failed to curb the world’s worrying 3-degree trajectory? These are valid strategic and tactical negotiation aspects that only a sincere and meaningful “Fijian Made” COP23 presidency can unleash.

From the ground up
The greatest strength to any negotiation tactic is to “show not tell”. Around the world, technological innovations are happening at breakneck speed. What seemed impossible, is now possible and many of these great ideas are coming from places least expected.

Inquisitive young minds are encouraged to break the mould and venture into start-ups. All this is possible if policies and incentives are in place to encourage radical innovation.

Imposing reduced tariff’s for electric cars as a policy by the Ministry of Economy is old-school thinking.

Our record on renewables and energy efficiency can be enhanced greatly through use of solar, wind and ocean power, through the use of efficient energy appliances, and proper policies and plans at sectoral levels that should all converge nationally.

However, Fiji’s NDC lacks depth and scope, as it merely talks about the electricity sector (where we are fortunate to have a significant contribution from hydro but contributions of other renewables is less than 1 percent) but fails to consider opportunities in transport (the largest growing sector for emissions), agriculture, forestry, tourism etc. Cabinet has yet to adopt the draft Energy Policy that was developed over two years ago.

Loss and damage, a key negotiation push is being timidly approached nationally.

Conversations with the insurance industry are necessary but there is much in the national policy space that can also be explored so that there is parity in the burden.

Chance for new narrative
Citizens should all actively look forward to detailed announcements on the preparations for the COP23. Questions like which particular ministries or arms of government will be directly involved; who will be the key experts advising Government; meaningful strategies for the participation of NGOs and the private sector; anticipated costs and how Government should raise revenue, should be answered both in public spaces and in the august house.

As always, the NFP stands ready to assist but the record of FijiFirst government on bipartisanship in matters of national importance will prove us right again.

While time ticks on, Mother Nature the final arbiter, is under no obligation to the Qorvis narrative.

Professor Biman Prasad is the leader of the opposition National Federation Party (NFP). This article has been republished from The Fiji Times with the permission of the author.

Fiji to chair next COP23 climate summit

President Bainimarama’s 2017 New Year message – video

Fiji government challenged over Indonesian soldiers in school rebuild

APR editor — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 23:42:11 +0000

By Nasik Swami in Suva

The Fiji government has no say in the Adopt a School programme by donor countries, Parliament has been told in response to opposition criticism over Indonesian soldiers being involved in the rebuilding of a local school.

Education Minister Dr Mahendra Reddy told Parliament this following a supplementary question by Opposition MP Roko Tupou Draunidalo about why the reconstruction of Queen Victoria School was not given to the British government since the school had been named after Queen Victoria.

Roko Tupou asked Dr Reddy on Tuesday why the reconstruction work was given to the Indonesian government as the country was allegedly responsible for genocide in West Papua.

“How much are these 20 pieces of silver help to seal your government’s mouth on the issue of genocide in West Papua and why has the government not sought assistance from other governments like the British government if it required, or a Commonwealth country to build a school named after Queen Victoria?” she asked.

In response, Dr Reddy said the question was totally irrelevant.

‘Open to anyone’
“Madam Speaker, totally irrelevant question but I just want to say that the Adopt a School programme is open to anyone,” he said.

“Anyone can go to the homepage, get to the site and express their interest to take up a particular school like the Chinese students did last week – they took Yasawa High School, Australians, and they have taken 26 schools, New Zealand and government of Japan.”

Dr Reddy also told Parliament that the reconstruction work at QVS would be completed by August.

“Apart from the adversities, Cyclone Winston has also provided us opportunities to, in this case, construct, replace old, aging infrastructure.

“At the moment we have got 30 Indonesian army engineers on the site and 15 Republic of Fiji Military Force (RFMF) engineers there as well, travelling daily to the site.”

Nasik Swami is a Fiji Times reporter.

Opposition out of order on West Papua?

Reported domestic violence in Fiji ‘tip of the iceberg’

Julie Cleaver — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 02:38:55 +0000

By Julie Cleaver

In Fiji, the number of reported domestic violence cases has increased. Police say in the first quarter of this year, it registered 951 which is 13 percent more than in the same period last year.

A Fijian women’s group believes the reported abuse is only “the tip of the iceberg”.

Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre co-ordinator Shamima Ali says the higher number of domestic violence reports is a good thing, as more women are choosing to speak out.

SHAMIMA ALI: “The more reporting there will be, the more it can act as a deterrent to potential wife beaters and perpetrators and so on, and it also encourages other women and girls to report when they see higher rates of reporting. So that is the positive side of it.”

However Shamima Ali believes only 15 percent of abused women approach the police. She says even if women want to speak out, they are often pressured to keep quiet.

SHAMIMA ALI: “Domestic violence is seen so much as the norm, and if you look at the domestic survey 58 percent of women said no one should interfere when a husband beats up his wife.”

However, Ali believes more women are reporting abuse because police are better at responding to domestic violence. Police spokesperson Atunaisa Sokomuri says the force has been working with the community to raise awareness and encourage women to report abuse.

ATUNAISA SOKOMURI: “Now the members of public have more confidence in the police department and report on sexual offenders cases and sexual abuse cases.”

Menka Goundan from the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement says she believes Cyclone Winston has caused the recent increase of reports. Goundan says cyclone relief workers encourage women in remote areas to contact police if they are being abused.

MENKA GOUNDAN: “Now there is a lot of NGOs, aid workers, even cluster groupings that are going in to talk to people, which has definitely led to the rise in reported cases.”

Menka Goundan says women are also more likely to report abuse during disasters as the fear of losing a place to stay, which normally deters them from speaking out, has already happened.

MENKA GOUNDAN: “With the displacement they are already insecure and more vulnerable so when these things happen they don’t have to worry about that security aspect because it’s already lost and they are already in a vulnerable state.”

The executive director of Fiji Women’s Rights Movement Tara Chetty says domestic violence usually increases during disasters. However she says it is difficult to tell whether Winston has directly caused the recent spike.

TARA CHETTY: “I think what it points to is the need to really analyse the figures that we come across. To have a look at geographical spread – where are they being reported. So that would give us a better sign of whether it’s in cyclone effected areas or not.”

Tara Chetty says abuse is rife even when there is no emergency.

TARA CHETTY: “This extremely high level of violence against women and girls and gender based violence is just unacceptable. You know, the Pacific is a world leader in gender based violence and that’s just not the kind of world leader that we want to be.”

Tara Chetty believes abuse will only decrease when Fijian culture changes.

Julie Cleaver reported this story for Dateline Pacific while on internship with Radio New Zealand International.

New cyclone threatens children, families in Fiji

APR editor — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 20:40:03 +0000

Only weeks after category 5 Cyclone Winston ripped through the country, Fiji is once again facing extreme weather conditions due to the presence of three tropical disturbances, one of which has formed into rapidly intensifying Cyclone Zena.

The tropical disturbances have caused widespread flooding across large parts of the country, including areas already badly affected by Cyclone Winston.

Many rivers have broken their banks; high tides linked to the new moon are also of concern.
Cyclone Zena is predicted to pass through Fiji at Category 2 strength in the next 24 hours, travelling along the southern coast of Viti Levu, home to more than 70 percent of Fiji’s population.

Winds have already increased and wind gusts of up to 120kph are expected. Viti Levu’s southern coast includes Fiji’s densely populated capital Suva.

UNICEF Pacific communications specialist Alice Clements, a New Zealander, said from her Suva base: “The flooding and rains associated with these three tropical disturbances could not come at a worse time for children and families in Fiji.

“These are the same families that were directly affected by Cyclone Winston just over a month ago. Far too many are sheltering under tarpaulins, pieces of salvaged corrugated iron, in tents or again in evacuation centres.”

Many people are still in evacuation centres following Cyclone Winston, numbers are once again increasing due to the latest flooding.

UNICEF Pacific’s representative Karen Allen said: “This poses significant threats to the health and wellbeing of children and families.

“Flooding and displacement like this exponentially increases the risk of all types of disease spreading quickly, especially diarrhoea, skin disease, eye infections and respiratory infections. The risk from diseases spread by mosquitos such as dengue and zika virus also increase.

“At a time like this we are also deeply concerned about the emotional wellbeing of children and families who have already been living under conditions of extreme stress since Cyclone Winston. For families who have already lost everything this will be a huge setback to their recovery efforts.”

UNICEF is monitoring the situation and will be joining rapid assessment missions to affected areas. The cyclone season has been especially unpredictable in the South Pacific, due to the effects of El Niño.

Fiji picks up the pieces after TC Winston – looking to tourism, remittances

APR editor — Sun, 03 Apr 2016 23:07:58 +0000

By Dionisia Tabureguci of Business Melanesia

As Fiji picks up the pieces after Tropical Cyclone Winston’s ravaging impact in late February, tourism and remittances are standing by as white knights for an economy that is expected to downgrade growth figures from an expected 3.5 percent of GDP this year.

Preliminary damage assessment released by the nation’s disaster management center, DISMAC, when this edition of Business Melanesia went to press stood at F$476.3 million, an equivalent of almost 5 percent of the country’s nominal GDP of F$9.69bn as stated in the 2016 National Budget.

And there are expectations that this figure will double or even triple when assessment is completed at the end of the 30-day State of Natural Disaster, which has been extended until April 19.

The latest edition of Melanesia Business.

“The pleasing fact is a lot of the tourism plants were not impacted at all,” Reserve Bank of Fiji Governor Barry Whiteside told Business Melanesia two weeks after TC Winston – described as the biggest and strongest tropical cyclones ever to hit the Southern Hemisphere – made landfall in Fiji.

“So the only tourism plant that has been impacted would be Taveuni, Savusavu and a little bit in the Yasawas. But we have been advised that a lot of hotels in the Mamanucas and the Yasawas will be up and running within the next two weeks or so.

“Hotels in most of Viti Levu are operational so the important thing is to get the visitors to come in now. Getting our tourism going will help repair our growth. Our manufacturing sector is still there as most of our towns and cities were not severely damaged.

“The only issue would be electricity supply. If electricity supply is available, then they would be up and running. Those are some of the positives coming out of this. The negatives would be the agricultural sector, sugar especially and of course housing.

Sugar industry impact
“So sugar cane and sugar production are definitely impacted [on] and the severity of that will affect how far we downgrade growth and indeed how much our foreign exchange reserves will be impacted, as sugar is one of our main export commodities. But tourism will hopefully bolster our foreign exchange plus remittances and aid flows that will be coming in. So these are some positives,” Whiteside said.

In a span of less than 24 hours, Category 5 TC Winston had brought about widespread destruction to crops, livestock, infrastructure, homes, buildings and had taken more than 40 lives.

Flashback to Fiji’s TC Winston: The destruction at Mudu village on Koro Island after the cyclone. Image: Business Melanesia/DINFO

Its impact was not unlike Category 5 TC Pam, which hit Vanuatu in March last year and left behind a damage bill of over 45billion vatu (US$412m) according to an assessment last year by the Asian Development Bank.

In Fiji, the economy is also braced for inflation spikes given the widespread damage to agriculture, which Fiji’s DISMAC had valued at around F$208 million when this edition went to press.

“Normally, imported inflation is very sluggish and stagnant at the moment because oil prices are very low so all food commodity prices weren’t moving too much so not too much impact on that side,” said Whiteside.

“It’s domestic production, domestic supply that will be the issue. So the quicker our farmers get back on their feet and start producing, the quicker the prices will come back down. Hopefully they will get the support needed and be able to put that food supply back into the market within 3 or 6 months at the latest.

“So impact on prices at the moment – expect increases over the next few months in inflation. In January it was 0.2 percent so we’re going to see an increase in that number over the next few months.”

Central bank statement
By press time, the central bank had released a special statement on TC Winston projecting a quick recovery for Fiji based on “firm macroeconomic fundamentals”.

“Added to this is the fact that our core tourism, industrial and large commercial centres remained relatively unscathed by TC Winston. As such, while growth this year is projected to be lower than earlier forecast, it will remain positive, with major added impetus from reconstruction and rehabilitation activity,” the RBF statement said.

“The tourism industry, which has recorded positive arrivals growth in both January and February this year, is expected to pick up pace in the upcoming peak season period. The tourism industry has activated TAG (Tourism Action Group) with the goal to “reassure” our key tourism markets that the major tourism regions are fully operational and open for business. Special air fares and hotel packages were launched last week in the major markets to stimulate arrivals.

“The special response of Fijians abroad as well as our international friends and family will likely boost remittance inflows significantly this year. Initial forecasts suggest that these flows will easily surpass the record $492 million received in 2015. Overall, this year’s economic outlook remains positive although risks associated with a slowing global economy and further natural catastrophes, remain,” the RBF statement said.

There was also quick reaction to the widespread destruction of homes and dwellings in affected areas with the Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) offering its more than 300,000 members withdrawal assistance of up to F$5000 on special grounds and the commercial banks offering low interest rates loans with the assistance of RBF.

“Normally after a disaster, we put in place a facility to make funds available to the commercial banks. It is called the Disaster Rehabilitation Facility, where we provide funds to the commercial banks, if they need it, on a lend-to basis to businesses at a maximum of $500,000 at an interest rate of 5 percent.

“And we also now have just put in place, together with the banks, a facility for small home owners, so those home owners who had their houses damaged and they want a small loan, can front up to a commercial bank for a maximum of $5,000 unsecured loan at an interest rate of 4.5 percent, for a maximum term of 5 years.

‘Roof over heads’
“That won’t make them have a whole house but it will help them repair and put a roof over their heads. And if they add that together with what they can get from FNPF if they’re an FNPF member, they can get up to $10,000 and I think that goes a long way in helping them at least make repairs to their homes,” Whiteside said.

At press time, DISMAC had announced that more than 9000 dwelling were completely destroyed, more than 16,000 damaged and an additional 28,900 as somewhere between completely destroyed and damaged Fiji-wide.

However, later government reports issued at the time of the first state of disaster period elapsing on March 21, said an estimated 32,000 homes were left damaged or destroyed and 350,000 people have been affected by the cyclone.

Dionisia Tabureguci is a journalist with Business Melanesia.This article was first published in Business Melanesia and has been republished by Asia Pacific Report with permission.

Fiji extends state of disaster in wake of Cyclone Winston

The devastation at Naocobau Village. Image: Business Melanesia/DINFO

Scientists need to brush up on communications, says Fiji weather man

Wansolwara — Sat, 02 Apr 2016 00:48:39 +0000

By Monica Aguilar and Shivika Mala in Suva

Fiji’s Neville Koop, managing director and meteorologist at Na Draki Weather, believes scientists must do a better job communicating with the public in preparation for future severe weather events in the Pacific.

Scientists should also explain how forecasting and warning systems work so people gain scientific literacy.

“If you cannot explain to people something by coming down to their level, you might as well not say anything,” he says.

The main concerns people have is whether they will lose crops, if it is safe to drive and what are the risks to life and property.

Na Draki’s Neville Koop … the public needs to gain scientific literacy.

Koop believes that it is essential that people understand the limitations of forecasting which relies on modeling cyclone behavior based on past storms.

However, cyclone Winston was “all over the place” defying past models and making it hard to give warnings with absolute certainty.

Koop believes a failure to grasp the scientific principle of uncertainty and a lack of faith in science has very dangerous potential for future weather events.

Rumours swirling
Shortly after cyclone Winston rumours were swirling on social media about it being a geo engineered man-made event.

Koop was appalled at this idea: “That’s dangerous and particularly insidious when people put this stuff out, right when people are most vulnerable because one of the things very noticeable after the Cyclone Winston was the very high level of post-traumatic stress.”

Koop was less diplomatic in an impassioned public post on Nadraki’s newsfeed calling such misinformation “a litany of lies” and “outright bullsh*t” which is “morally abhorrent”.

He says the key challenge for scientists and governments as they respond to climate change is to create policy based on the best available science while communicating to the public in a way that relates to their daily lives.

Monica Aguilar and Shivika Mala are student journalists at the University of the South Pacific.

Na Draki – weather “for your peace of mind”

Fiji Easter message of hope after Cyclone Winston’s devastation

APR editor — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 22:07:15 +0000

By Peni Mudunavonu in Suva

The Fiji Council of Churches and the Ecumenical Centre of Research for Education and Advocacy brought together people from different Christian faiths for a combined Resurrection Easter Sunday event at Ratu Sukuna Park in Suva yesterday.

The theme of the event was “Rise with Christ: A Vision of Hope for the Future” and it was attended by church leaders of different Christian denominations including United Church Program co-ordinator for Pacific Reverend Dr Cliff Bird, Catholic Church Archbishop Peter Loy-Chong and Church of God Pastor Sikeli Vadei as well as many others.

In his address, general secretary for the Fiji Council of Churches Rev Simione Tugi, said Easter marked not only the death of Christ but most of all his Resurrection when he conquered death and rose to life.

“Easter is one of the most important events in the Christian calendar for it is the beginning of a new hope to every Christian that not even death can stop rising to new life with Christ,” Rev Tugi said.

“Tropical Cyclone Winston has taken and threatened many lives in Fiji and reports have highlighted that the many affected have taken their own initiatives and collectively rebuilt their lives.

“This act of hope and faith signifies their convictions and zeal in the Lord portrayed in their ability to rise.

“The Easter celebration of Christ’s victory over death is a significant reminder of hope as we rise together as brothers and sisters in Christ despite this trying time.

“Our rising together as one in Christ to build a new Fiji is the test of this moment,” he said.

Culinary team lending skills to Fiji disaster fundraiser

APR editor — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 23:05:19 +0000

By Melanie Cooper

Auckland University of Technology culinary graduates will be working side-by-side with some of New Zealand’s top chefs this weekend to help raise money for Fiji in the wake of Cyclone Winston.

The four plate menu for Flavours of Fiji has been created by Robert Oliver and leading Auckland chefs Ben Bayly (The Grove & Baduzzi), Gareth Stewart (Nourish Group), Mark Southon (O’Connell St Bistro), Michael Meredith (Meredith’s & Eat My Lunch initiative) and Sid Sahrawat (SIDART and Cassia).

The prep work for this weekend’s Flavours of Fiji fundraiser will take place in AUT’s production kitchen where the culinary graduates will work alongside the chefs to prepare the ingredients for 5000 meals to be served at The Cloud in Auckland this Sunday. The AUT team will also work at The Cloud.

AUT executive chef Warwick Brown, who has helped develop the event with industry colleagues, says in the wake of last month’s cyclone the people of Fiji are desperately in need of money to help get back on their feet and he is pleased AUT can play a part in helping them.

“We have a diverse community of staff and students at AUT and many links to the Pacific, and we wanted to do our bit to help with Fiji’s recovery.”

Emmil Matic and Alec Yac, both graduates of AUT’s Diploma in Culinary Arts, say it’s a great chance to give their time to a good cause and to showcase their culinary skills.

Yac says he’s looking forward to working with the Pacific ingredients and flavours.

“Food is a great way to share culture and in a previous event where we focused on Pasifika dishes I could see the crossover with my Philippine culture, flavours and cooking traditions,” says Brown.

“Our production kitchen will be an exciting place on Saturday as we prep those meals and I really hope everyone comes down to The Cloud on Sunday to enjoy some incredible food and get behind the cause.”

More information

Hard to fight nature, but Fiji deserves better house building

APR editor — Sat, 12 Mar 2016 10:19:47 +0000

By Alex Perrottet in The Fiji Times

Severe tropical cyclone Winston unleashed the full force of mother nature on a beautiful country.

But the peace and calm that characterise Fiji remains, because while many tourists seek that calm in the still coastal waters and the warm sun, they inevitably find it more in the friendly smiles and selfless generosity of the Fijian people.

I have spent the past two weeks in Fiji following severe TC Winston. I arrived on Monday morning, February 22, only 24 hours after many faced the most intense storm to ever hit the country. Yet I could not believe the resilience, the resolve, and the peaceful acceptance of what had just happened.

I spent hours in villages and settlements, in offices and vehicles from the Yasawa Group in the West to Vanua Balavu in far north-eastern Lau. From Nadi to Suva to Taveuni and remote parts of Ra, to the interior village of Nadelei.

Everywhere I went I saw the same thing — destruction, a certain amount of desperation in parts, but alongside that a deep peace and acceptance of what had happened.

As Dr Sushil K Sharma argued last week, a major category five cyclone like Winston was far too strong for even well-built houses. But what he also argued was that to talk of building standards for such an event was “sheer nonsense”.

He wrote of some in the media that “as if by looking at the destruction to buildings they can correctly assess the situation”.

Misses the point
I strongly reject those assertions because Dr Sharma misses the point, comprehensively.

Fiji’s media did an amazing job in the wake of the cyclone. I thought I was the first journalist to reach Vanua Balavu. I since discovered that before I even left for Lau, Tevita Vuibau of The Fiji Times had taken a ship there, literally hours after the cyclone hit.

Not only was that a scoop, and good journalism, it was brave. He had no idea what he would find out there. But death and destruction were a safe bet.

Journalists like Tevita Vuibau and myself don’t look at ruined houses and ruined lives and then make assumptions. We tell people’s stories and we ask questions of those in power and relevant positions.

I sailed on the MV Cagivou back from Vanua Balavu last week, after talking to countless people who lost their homes, and to some who lost their loved ones. I spoke to Commander Humphrey Tawake of the Fiji Navy who said more and better tents were needed, and some there would be living in them for up to two years.

Many people in the villages of Mavana, Mualevu and Lomaloma said the very thing that Dr Sharma argues — the winds were too strong and they came from just about every angle. Commander Tawake agreed with him saying whether it’s a modern home or a traditional bure, many stood no chance.

But does that mean it’s “sheer nonsense” to talk about building standards? Surely not.

A lesson?
Some houses survived. I noted quite a few houses in the predominantly Tongan village of Sawana were standing with their curved outer walls. Is there a lesson there?

On the 32-hour journey back to Suva, I peppered damage assessors with questions. There were engineers, builders, electricians, energy and solar specialists, doctors, nurses, and members from just about every government ministry.

Dr Sharma will be interested to discover that journalism involves more than looking at the damage and walking away.

The builders and engineers noted some of the worst-damaged houses on Vanua Balavu were poorly-built. Many roofs were not properly strapped onto beams. Concrete was not poured into many of the foundation blocks — in many instances it was found only in the corner blocks.

They also noted that people in remote places are not taught about how to minimise the pressure inside the house during a cyclone and if they had, perhaps fewer roofs would have been lifted off.

It’s true, Severe TC Winston was a terror of a force. Even the best efforts were rendered futile against the sheer power of 330 km per hour winds, (not 330 knot-winds as Dr Sharma wrote — that would be over 600km per hour).

But surely this is a chance to build back stronger. God forbid every future cyclone is going to be like Winston.

Improving standards
It is always worthwhile to try to improve building standards. To assume that is a waste of time is dangerous and missing a crucial opportunity.

In remote Fijian villages, the practice of obtaining resource consent for building is very different from mainland towns. It’s a long way from the regulators.

Damage assessors told me the government needs to put out tenders to companies for the rebuild in those remote parts, so that they can bear the burden of compliance.

It was good to see just that happen on page 5 of the Fiji Sun newspaper on the Saturday after the cyclone. The government was already on the job.

Dr Sharma is right, it’s hard to fight nature. And it’s inspiring to see both the resilience, and acceptance in the attitude of Fijians in the aftermath.

But surely it would be akin to piling one disaster onto another if Fiji misses the opportunity to build back better. A poorly-built house will always suffer more in any disaster. And Fijians, particularly the poorer ones, deserve better than that.

Alex Perrottet is a journalist with Radio New Zealand International and spent two weeks reporting in Fiji after the Winston disaster, and was still there reporting long after other New Zealand media journalists had returned home. He is a former Pacific Media Watch editor at the Pacific Media Centre.

‘Hurricane’ Winston – we’re lucky catastrophe didn’t strike Suva

Alex Perrottet reporting from Vanua Balavu

Cyclone Winston damage in Fiji runs to $476m, says disaster office

APR editor — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 10:33:22 +0000

By Allison Penjueli in Suva

A total of $476.3 million of estimated damages in all sectors was recorded from damages caused by TC Winston, the Fiji Roads Authority has recorded the highest preliminary amount of $135 million of damages around the country.

This was announced by the Natural Disasters Management Office Director, Akapusi Tuifagalele, at a press conference today.

The damage assessment results by sector, the FRA now tops the list with 135 million. The rest remains, with the Agriculture Sector with $120 million, the Sugar Sector with $80 million and Education with $50.2 million. We now have a preliminary estimate of $476.3 million in total damages.

The director said that the Fiji Red Cross Society had assessed 10,397 households and had assisted 5243.

As of today, there are 619 operating evacuation centres around Fiji with 19,649 evacuees. We expect people to move back to their homes, move back to their places and start to rebuild also to clean up in the respective areas

Director Tuifagalele said that rehabilitation on Koro Island was continuing and that the Prime Minister with other cabinet ministers were on the island today.

The preliminary assessment results of destroyed dwellings around Fiji stands at 7042 and 11,111 of damaged dwellings. Coming to total of 18,154 dwellings destroyed or partly damaged.

Update of Statistics:

Deaths: 43
Evacuation Centres: 619
People in evacuation centres: 19,649

‘Hurricane’ Winston – we’re lucky catastrophe didn’t strike Suva

Pacific Media Watch — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 21:15:38 +0000

By Dr Sushil K Sharma in Suva

The term “Hurricane Winston” can be used instead of Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston for brevity similar to the common references in the past, for example, Hurricane Bebe in 1972. For one thing the term “Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston” is a mouthful and too long for people in the media and the general public to use on a day-to-day basis.

Hurricane Winston is more apt despite being short. The term clearly suggests that Winston attained hurricane force winds.

All systems in our region are not only tropical origin but also cyclonic in nature, meaning winds rotate in a clockwise manner around the centre of the system.

Severe does not necessarily give the general public any understanding of its true strength but once the term “hurricane” is used, it is understood clearly that the system is of the top-notch category with sustained winds of 10-minute average of 64 knots or over.

The momentary gusts – wind gusts lasting for a few seconds or minutes — can be estimated by adding 50 per cent of the 10-minute average sustained winds to arrive at the damaging gust value. Thus if the forecast was for 220 knots for Hurricane Winston, the damaging momentary gusts would be 220 knots plus 110 knots (50 percent of 220 knots) to arrive at the estimated top strength of the gusts, which in this case would be 330 knots.

It should be noted that wind speeds fluctuate like a sine-wave with differing amplitude and frequency in very short 10-minute periods, as you may have noted during Hurricane Winston. Thus in an average 220 knots speed hurricane, you would expect winds to fluctuate between 110 knots and 330 knots.

Many people may question building standards by just looking at the extent and arial variation of damage in a region. This is an unfair comparison as the winds are very different from one house to the other in a region depending on the exposure and wind channelling between hills, mountains, trees, small breakers like trees and buildings.

Media talk of building standards
Further, we note that people in the media always talk about building standards during these events, as if by looking at the destruction to buildings they can correctly assess the situation. They always wrongly assume that each house was faced with the same velocity (wind speed and direction) force.

They hardly ever comprehend that winds change direction and hit localities from more than one direction, as Hurricane Winston showed, hitting some homes from the southerly direction first and then turning westerly after an hour and finally becoming easterly at full hurricane speed.

The airflow during a cyclone is very turbulent and dynamic in nature. Apart from plane horizontal winds that the general public think of, during Hurricane Winston or any other similar systems, there would be very strong downdrafts — that is vertically downward flow hitting the earth from the upper atmosphere around the central regions of the hurricane. There would also be severe vertically upward wind flow out and away from the central regions of the system.

It should also be noted that at the same time the cyclone is moving away horizontally on the surface of the earth. Thus apart from the revolving horizontal cyclonic winds, we also have upward and downward — that is both vertical and horizontal wind motions simultaneously in the atmosphere in a three dimensional manner.

Talk of building standards for a system such as Hurricane Winston is sheer nonsense. No developing nation in the Pacific can adequately cover for and take precautions in their buildings for 330 knots winds.

Winds of this type have enough momentum to uproot entire buildings structures and flatten concrete walls of any type. The three dimensional nature of the varying forces applied to structures both inside and outside the walls of buildings, with winds changing directions to loosen them from all sides during the passage of these systems, should also be considered.

The speed of passage of a tropical cyclone across a nation, region or small geographical area is also responsible for the extent of damage. Hurricane Winston was a very fast moving system, which meant that the extent of damage was very limited.

Slower systems
Often systems take two to three times more time moving only at 3-8 knots speed compounding geometrically the damage as structures weaken in real time. Weaker winds are able to do more damage as the system lingers in an area.

Hurricane Winston was also a very small diameter-system which meant that the area of damage was very limited.

Of note, and one thing that people almost always forget is that the air pressure is very low indeed in the central regions of the cyclones. Unlike what people believe, the system as it was moving over the sea, would have uneven sea levels — with the sea elevated 20-30 metres in the central regions of the system.

As Hurricane Winston was moving, making landfall, the water levels would suddenly rise over the island in the ocean or coastal region 20-30 metres suddenly. Storm surge damage is a major issue in systems such Hurricane Winston where cyclones often wipe out entire coastal regions.

Fiji should thank God, as from my own analysis, the nation was spared from a major catastrophe. The system was headed right for the Capital City, where it would have wreaked havoc, with deaths in many thousands with the city almost wiped out from the map of the nation with its 330 knots gusting winds. We were spared as the system passed over less populated regions and the fact that the eye of the centre appears to have been away at sea, with minimal or no storm surge damage.

God definitely was on Fiji’s side. For a scientist like me who has spent his entire life in this field, I can categorically say that people need to be more positive as we were saved from a major carnage and destruction. The tragic scenario envisaged did not eventuate, though every single death or damage is not small.

We have just seen nature at full play with Hurricane Winston. As a community we have to learn to respect nature and adapt to live with it.

We cannot fight nature or any act of God.

Dr Sushil K Sharma is an associate professor of meteorology in Fiji.This article was first published in The Fiji Times

Fiji’s ruined houses need better building in wake of Winston

APR editor — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 20:38:24 +0000

Day 9 – Alex Perrottet reporting via Skype on Monday from Vanua Balavu for RNZ’s Checkpoint

By Alex Perrottet of Radio New Zealand International

Around half of Fiji’s houses will have to be rebuilt after the devastation caused by Cyclone Winston, damage assessors say.

In the worst-hit areas, villages have been destroyed, and tens of thousands of people are still in evacuation centres as they wait for long term shelters to be set up.

Teams of builders and engineers say they will submit reports saying many ruined houses were simply not built to standard.

In the Lau Group, just off the coast of Vanua Balavu, the Fiji government ship MV Cagivou carried aid and damage assessment teams representing almost every ministry, from energy to education.

A supply boat from New Zealand’s multi-role HMNZS Wellington also arrived with a load of 10-litre water containers.

Lieutenant Leroy Judge, the man in charge of the initial deployment, said the Wellington had a desalination plant “so it can keep producing as much water really as required until it essentially runs out of diesel.”

The day before it had produced about 3000 litres and that day it gave some 2000 litres to the closer islands.

The Cagivou was running late. Crew members started to fill containers from the ship’s own water tank but the browner shade was a sign it would need to be boiled, and the message was sent out to the island.

Rebulding in Fiji after Cyclone Winston. Image: Alex Perrrottet/Radio NZI

Destroyed homes
Lomaloma school had become the military post. Out front, the almost compulsory game of one-touch football was underway.

But next door, in Lomaloma village, no one was playing football. People were cutting up dead trees and burning them along with ruined possessions.

Titoka Nakavulevu, the turanga ni koro (chief), explained that 52 of the village’s 60 houses had been destroyed.

Hundreds of tents were at the command post, and Titoka Nakavulevu was grateful they had arrived – but they had not quite been dispatched to the villagers yet.

Jesse Delailomaloma has set up a tiny tarpaulin on a small slab so his wife and grandson can sleep above the ground. Next to it is a pile of wood and tin that used to be their house.

He was waiting for the tent supplies and was not sure when they would get them. However, the first thing he needed was his house.

“Never mind the food or what, just the house to cover me from the sun and the rain.”

A destroyed village on Vanua Balavu. Image: Neil Covert

‘Six months to two years’ in tents
Commander Humphrey Tawake is in charge of the mission and said there was a reason for the delay.

“That was supposed to be done yesterday but we had a bit of difficulties,” he said.

“All the vehicles here are privately owned, so you have to have some sort of understanding.

“They pay for their own fuel and we have to make some sort of arrangements that is a balanced approach so that they get their money’s worth and the assistance is given. Having said that, those will be gone by this morning.”

But the commander said they would not be enough. He needed more than 800, immediately, and they had to be good enough to house people until their homes were rebuilt.

“The tarpaulins are not good enough, because the houses I’ve seen here, we need tents that will accommodate from six [months] to two years. People can live in them, because some of the reconstruction material and some of the tarpaulins won’t last.”

Building techniques exposed
Savenaca Volau is an elderly man who crawled with his wife under the floorboards after half his house was ripped away by the storm and the furniture was blown out.

He argued Fijians would be better off building their traditional bures, made from coconut palms and bamboo, as most people died from corrugated iron and glass cuts or crushing concrete.

“The young people now, they don’t know how to do that kind of Fijian roof. Only the people, those old people, but we people. I can make it, I can make the thatch.”

Mr Volau agreed it was important to teach the next generation how to build the thatches.

“But this people here, the new generation, they don’t like the old one, I don’t know why.”

Engineers on board the Cagivou said they had seen multiple building errors in the ruined houses. Incorrect strapping methods and cost-cutting short cuts in the foundations were evident on the islands, far away from from the scope of government regulators.

The chief, Titoka Nakavulevu, saw the whole experience as having served as a lesson.

“It really teach us to safe, to build a proper house preparing for the hurricane, for the long term, for our families.”

Titoka said he would take his lead from the government, and the engineers agreed. They said the government needed to put out rebuild tenders to private companies who could bear the burden of compliance.

HMNZS Wellington being loaded with aid in Fiji post-Cyclone Winston. Image: NZ Defence Force

Unprecedented cyclone
But everyone agreed with Commander Tawake that this cyclone was unprecedented.

“You have storm surge, you had the cyclone and the wind, then you have … tornadoes.”

“Prior to that, for a couple of days we were having tremors, earthquake tremors, and it was like they were swimming in a swimming pool with tornadoes flying, roofing irons flying everywhere.”

He felt that with that combination the traditional bure would not survive.

“And the one thing that we must be, that we are, thankful of is that those who lost their lives [were not as many] as we would have expected with the level of devastation that is here.”

Commander Tawake said whatever the building style, it had to meet standards and be kept small. Bigger houses with greater surface area were more vulnerable to strong winds.

He said that at least 50 percent of Fiji had to be rebuilt, house by house, and that was going to take some time to finish.

Alex Perrottet, a reporter of Radio NZ International, has spent the past two weeks in Fiji reporting on the aftermath of TC Winston, often venturing to the most devastated remote parts of the country. He is a former Pacific Media Watch contributing editor at the AUT Pacific Media Centre and a Masters in Communication Studies graduate.

Damage to Fiji’s water system repair costs will hit millions

APR editor — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 05:57:42 +0000

By Peni Shute in Suva for Newswire

Water Authority of Fiji says it was well prepared before tropical cyclone Winston devastated areas around the country – but damage to water systems around the country will run into millions of dollars.

WAF chief executive officer Opetaia Ravai said in a press conference yesterday that investment in the F$4 million of Gensets generators helped to keep water supply consistent around the country during and after TC Winston.

Since the warning came when Tropical Cyclone Winston was approaching Fiji, our team — and we have a team of disaster risk committee here at WAF — started to mobilise and prepare for what was termed at that time a very big cyclone.

we now know that it was one of the biggest to hit the southern hemisphere.

Ravai said a lot of Fiji’s systems nationwide were affected.

“There are 227 pumping stations around the country and all these pumping stations require electricity and as you would know there was a huge damage to the electricity infrastructure and in the previous cyclones if you recall whenever there would be a cyclone people would be without water.

“This cyclone we were better prepared, we invested a lot in standby generators to the tune of $4 million and this year we will continue with that investment and other generators in key establishments so that when power outages do occur we can still supply water to the people of Fiji.”

Ravai thanked the wisdom of the board and management of WAF in investing in the Gensets to stand by for disasters like Winston.

He said WAF would continue to invest in generators so that in any situation consistent water supply was made available.

“And you would have experienced that in most of the towns and cities. We were able to do this because we had installed Gensets, had it not been for these Gensets, which were very big … and very expensive …

“For example, in Suva over 300,000 people would have been without water and that power was almost off for the week so you can imagine the inconvenience that would have caused and the amount of water carting we would have been going 24 hours 7 days a week and it would have been inconvenient to people.”

Running on Gensets
Ravai said water systems in the west from Tavua to Ba and Rakiraki were running on Gensets at the moment due to the delay in power restoration in the area because of the amount of damage that were caused to the power lines in Kings Road and the surrounding areas.

“There are just certain areas in the high areas of Tacirua, the high areas of Caubati, Khalsa road, Colo-i-Suva which are being supplied through trucks because of the power fluctuations that are happening now and again, causing our systems to depressurise.

“Then we have to recover again and that is why the high elevated areas will get affected the most.

A Water Authority of Fiji, plumber repairing a broken water pipe along Thurston Street in Suva yesterday. Image: Peni Shute/Newswire

Ravai said WAF had isolated the area and was servicing them through water carting with trucks.

About six water trucks were being used by WAF to cart water to the surrounding areas of South Taveuni.
“In the North, the biggest damage I think occurred in the south of Taveuni where the desalination plants were damaged by TC Winston and it was quiet sometime before we were able to get to the southern end of Taveuni because of the damage to the roads.

“But our people are now there on the ground and starting to repair the desalination plant of the south of Taveuni.

47 water trucks
Ravai said there were about 47 water trucks carting water nationwide to supplement water coming through pipes; Ravai said each truck costs the Water Authority $1000 a day to hire and so far had supplied 6.5 million litres of water.

A team was leaving for Vanua Balavu to assess the area this afternoon, Ravai said.

“The areas in the Lau Group in Vanua Balavu and Lakeba have recovered from what we’ve gathered so far but nevertheless our teams are going out there with the assistance of the Australian and New Zealand Navy to fully assess the system and start with some repairs.”

Ravai said WAF would be hiring more project workers next week to repair systems in the 233 villages in rural areas around the country that were on the path of TC Winston.

So far, WAF had restored water systems in 87 villages.

Fiji’s AG welcomes relaxed provident fund rules for cyclone aid

APR editor — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 20:27:44 +0000

By Calvin Prasad in Suva

Fiji’s Attorney-General and Minister for Finance Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has welcomed the relaxation of requirements for Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) members to receive natural disaster assistance.

In a statement released yesterday, Sayed-Khaiyum said this was a positive step towards alleviating the urgent needs of affected Fijians. He said:

“In the areas I’ve visited in the Western Division, these new requirements have brought a sense of relief as they make it much easier for FNPF members to recover quickly from this crisis.”

The FNPF announced it had relaxed the requirements for Natural Disaster Assistance based on initial assessments and feedback from its members.

In a meeting on Monday, the board approved the relaxation of the requirements as listed below:

All members affected by Tropical Cyclone Winston can apply for the $1000 assistance and Quick Repairs housing assistance of $5000
In addition, members, who wish to help their immediate family in affected areas, are also eligible for the assistance.
FNPF teams will no longer inspect or visit villages/settlement or members’ houses to verify members’ residential addresses
The $1000 assistance is available to members regardless of the classification of their dwelling (eg. agricultural lease, squatter, village, agreement for lease, instrument of tenancy such as titles etc.).

This facility would be open for the next 60 days and would be reviewed at the end of this period.

Free lunch for some Fiji schools, cyclone classroom damage $42m

APR editor — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 01:07:50 +0000

By Maggie Boyle in Suva

Students attending schools managed by TISI Sangam, Fiji’s largest non-government organisation, in some cyclone-ravaged areas will be provided lunch for a month.

General secretary Damend Gounder said Sangam would be giving lunch to those attending school in Rakiraki and Ba.

“Coming in Rakiraki, we’re going to give them lunch as well … Sangam will provide lunch and schools in Ba as well.”

Gounder said this relief would be ongoing to assist students whose homes had been damaged severely by “monster” cyclone Winston.

Formed in Fiji in 1926, TISI Sangam is also the largest non-public provider of education with 26 schools, a nursing academy and many pre-schools. There are countless branches and temples around Fiji.

Students went back to school yesterday.

Classroom damage
The Fiji Times reported that the estimated damage to schools around the country after preliminary assessment stood at at F$41.69 million (NZ$29.7 million).

National Disaster Management Office director Akapusi Tuifagalele said the amount was expected to rise as assessments were still being carried out around the country.

About 240 schools have been reported damaged or completely destroyed.

Tuifagalele said in the Eastern Division, 19 schools from Lomaiviti were affected at an estimate cost of $6.73m while damage to the 12 schools in Lau was $5.75m.

Meanwhile, students of the University of the South Pacific enrolled for classes at the Laucala Bay, Lautoka and Labasa campuses were asked to report to their respective classes from today.

While those attending classes at Laucala Bay campus will have to wait until tomorrow before resuming classes, those enrolled for classes in Lautoka were asked to report to the Lautoka campus today. For those in Labasa, classes have already resumed.

This was confirmed by the vice-chancellor and president of USP Professor Rajesh Chandra.

Fiji baby survives 14 hour cyclone Winston ordeal in esky

APR editor — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 22:39:46 +0000

By Serafina Silaitoga of the Fiji Times

Eight-month-old Waseroma Rasavou survived 14 hours in an esky cooler as the savage tropical storm battered a remote Fiji village in one of the latest survival stories to emerge.

As last week’s severe tropical cyclone Winston damaged 19 properties at Nasaisaivua in Kubulau, Bua – including two church buildings and a hall – Waseroma lay sleeping soundly and safe in the esky.

The baby was covered with only a T-shirt and the esky lid above his head, keeping him away from the rain and strong winds.

When his dad, Waisake Bukaroro, saw the house shaking, he told his wife Mereani Mailekutu to take the two older children to the village hall while he prepared the esky.

At 4.25pm, Bukaroro said he put the baby into the esky, closed it and ran towards the village hall to join the other villagers who were taking shelter there.

But when they were about five metres away from the hall, the structure dropped before them and the other villagers ran out.

In this instance, he panicked with fright, caught in a dilemma to choose between saving his baby first or run towards the damaged hall to rescue his wife and other two children.

Bukaroro said it was a difficult moment but the love for his son forced him to take shelter in a roofless bathroom — about 20m away from the destroyed hall.

He said when they got to the bathroom, which was big enough for four people, the villagers were all crammed into the only safe haven at that time.

He carried the esky through the overcrowded room and stood among the villagers carrying the cooler until daybreak on Sunday.

Throughout the night, he kept opening the esky lid to see if his son was breathing.

He added his baby did not cry but slept under heavy rain and strong wind conditions.

661 schools opening today
Meanwhile, Newswire Fiji reports the Fiji government was asking schools around the nation to be understanding of the challenges being faced by students as 516 primary schools and 145 secondary schools around the country opened its gates for classes today.

Residents severely affected by Winston in the north-west of the main island of Viti Levu have received needed relief supplies during a three-day tour of the region by the Attorney-General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

Local businesses CJ Patel donated 5000 food packs valued at $232,000 and Punja and Sons another 5000 valued at $129,000 to assist the relief effort. R.C Manubhai has donated kitchen utensils to the value of $15,000 and mattresses and roofing supplies worth another $20,000.

The AG along with Minister Rosy Akbar and Minister Parveen Kumar distributed a large portion of the donated food packs from CJ Patel and Punja and Sons.

The AG’s tour took in cyclone-ravaged areas of Raviravi, Karavi and Yalalevu, (Ba) on Friday, Korobuya, Nabutini, Busabusa and Veisaru (Ba) and Korovou (Tavua) on Saturday, and Nadhari, and Navia (Ba) on Sunday.

It was the first time many of those affected by Cyclone Winston had received any form of assistance. The residents expressed their gratitude to the AG and the two ministers.

NZ sending more Defence Force engineers to assist Fiji

APR editor — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 11:29:07 +0000

By Ashutosh Singh of Newswire Fiji

More assistance from New Zealand is expected to arrive in the country today.

This was confirmed by a representative of New Zealand to the United Nations, speaking at a briefing on “The humanitarian situation in Fiji caused by cyclone Winston” organised by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The unnamed spokesperson said:

New Zealand currently has 67 defense force personnel on the ground in Fiji with 72 more arriving on a naval vessel on Sunday, along with an engineering company of 180 personnel.

To date, New Zealand has committed more than $3.2m to the response, including immediate relief supplies and construction materials and also technical teams to help Fijian authorities assess the extent of the damage and plan a response as well as medical, engineering and water production teams to support the government of Fiji’s response.

New Zealand joins with others here today to offer our very sincere condolences to the people and government of Fiji for the terrible loss of life and economic, social and environmental devastation at the hands of Tropical Cyclone Winston.

We are very thankful for the preparedness and leadership of the Fijian Government who ensured the consequences of Cyclone Winston was less severe to what it could otherwise have been.

New Zealand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully is also expected to be in Fiji tomorrow to offer his condolences in person and show support to the people and government of Fiji.

Heartbreaking but an inspiration
Fijivillage.com reported that Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said while it had been heartbreaking to witness the devastation left behind by “monster” cyclone Winston, it had also been a great inspiration for him to see the Fijian spirit alive and well.

Bainimarama said in the face of such adversity where family members had been lost or injured and many houses destroyed, he had been greeted with smiles around the country.

He said he was determined that the government would do everything it could and as quickly as possible to help those affected by Winston “get back on their feet”.

He added that the government was doing everything humanely possible to deliver water, food and shelter to everyone in affected areas.

Rakiraki town hopes to get business going again next week

APR editor — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 10:46:41 +0000

By Anish Chand in Rakiraki, Fiji

Rakiraki town, in one of the worst cyclone Winston-ravaged areas in Fiji’s northwestern Viti Levu island, is expected to be fully operational by next week.

The Town Council has been working non-stop to clear debris in the central business district.

The town suffered major damage after its market was blown away and flood waters brought big logs and trees onto the main street.

A number of large trees in the town also fell, blocking streets.

While there is still no electricity supply in Rakiraki, shops that have generators have opened for business already.

Businesses in Rakiraki are asking government for tax incentives in order for them to survive.

George Shiu Raj, a prominent businessman in Rakiraki, said:

“They are very sad at the moment just because we are THE biggest taxpayers and my request to the government is that they give us a tax breaks and incentives for three years so that we can build up.”

Stop politicising relief help, warns Seruiratu – 62,000 homeless

APR editor — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 12:55:49 +0000

By Verleshwar Singh and Peni Shute of Newswire Fiji

Fiji’s Minister for National Disaster Management, Colonel Inia Seruiratu, has lashed out at political parties that are trying to politicise the issue of relief assistance.

At a media briefing yesterday, Seruiratu said:

It’s quite disappointing that the issue of distribution of rations or food or the other relief assistance has been politiciSed and this is not the time to politiciSe issues. We are aware that political parties are saying that certain ethnic groups are being marginaliSed or ignored, that is not so. And I wish to assure all Fijians that we’ll provide for them when we have the opportunity to come to you.

Meanwhile, the HMAS Canberra yesterday left the Port of Brisbane for Fiji to assist in the humanitarian assistance mission, transporting disaster relief supplies, equipment and personnel, including engineers and medical professionals.

The crew is expected to be in Fiji for at least a month.

Colonel Seruiratu said the government was expecting HMAS Canberra to reach Fiji by next Tuesday.

“We also received one of the aeroplanes from the French government in New Caledonia and one of the Casa planes is here with us. Today we have deployed the Casa aircraft to Vanua Levu, particularly to address the needs between Savusavu and Taveuni and there is future tasking for the same plane again in that area.”

Colonel Inia Seruiratu during a press conference yesterday. Image: Peni Shute / Newswire Fiji

Colonel Seruiratu said another plane had arrived yesterday and it would transport a water treatment plant to the people of Taveuni.

“By today we will be also receiving the second Casa plane and, of course, the priority for that plane will be in the Northern Division as well. Tomorrow the first task [that] will be allocated to that plane is to take a water treatment plant to assist in the water situation that the people in Taveuni are going through.”

The French military aircraft arrived in Fiji for humanitarian support with three tonnes of aid from the French Red Cross.

It was in Taveuni today for the first of many relief supply drops.

Newswire Fiji also reported that Colonel Seruiratu confirmed that 62,461 people were currently in evacuation centres around the country and the death toll remained at 42.

Vanuatu too slow to act over cyclone disaster planning, claims Kalsakau

APR editor — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 04:54:15 +0000

By Jonas Cullwick in Port Vila

Vanuatu’s Opposition has expressed sadness with the government and the people of Fiji, and people of Vanuatu and students living in Fiji over the devastation and loss of life from the category 5 tropical cyclone Winston last weekend.

A statement issued by Opposition Leader Ishmael Kalsakau said his Office was extremely disappointed to see that after severe tropical cyclone Winston hit Fiji where many ni-Vanuatu students are studying in schools and universities and the people of Fiji were facing hardship, the Vanuatu government had not yet produced assistance plans.

“Vanuatu must be reminded that we went through a similar tragedy and Fiji assisted us in a huge way and sent its technical people to come and assist us,” the statement read.

“The Office of the Opposition wants to tell the government that we must tell ourselves that it is enough of planning in a reactionary manner and to start adopting proactive measures so we are ready to tackle problems before they overcome us.

“The problem of being reactionary has led us to become victims in a big way in natural disasters such as cyclone Pam.

“When we receive a forecast for rain tomorrow, we must be ready with the umbrella today,” the statement continues.

It says the government made a reserve of around 1.3 billion vatu (about NZ$17 million) last year, which showed the prudent management of the previous government. But this must allow the country to be more active and prepared for natural disasters that may affect us, our friends and our families.”

‘No idleness’
With the predictions of tropical cyclone Winston, the technical people of Vanuatu should already have already “sat down and put together a package” for government to apply in a situation like this and to reassure ni-Vanuatu people who live in Fiji and the Fiji government, the statement said.

“It is not possible [in] this day and age for the performance of any government of the day to show idleness on the part of government on issues that affect the lives of the people.”

The Opposition urged the government to reflect and regenerate the country’s response time on issues such as these when information received showed they would happen so that the government can plan to tackle them it in a way that minimise their effects and show the people the government was ready and capable of looking after the welfare of all.

“The time for reaction should have been [last weekend]. Even just a word of support would already [have been] a huge gesture,” said Kalsakau.

“The Office of the Opposition would like to take this opportunity to share its sadness with the government and the people of Fiji over the tragedy they are facing and thank God Almighty for looking after our people in Fiji.”

The death toll from the cyclone in Fiji has reached 44 this week, according to reports from Fiji.

The Daily Post tried to contact government leaders but could not reach any.

Prepared? Yes, but devastation of Winston was overwhelming

APR editor — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 22:31:30 +0000

As aid has started to flow to parts of Fiji left devastated by severe tropical cyclone Winston, the Fiji Times chief editor says that this country once used to coping with fierce storms has been left vulnerable.

In his reflective series of editorials, Fred Wesley wrote that it was encouraging to see the international community rallying in support but “the real cost to our nation” was not yet known.

Fijians had been “prepared” for the cyclone but the sheer scale of the disaster was “overwhelming”.

“Thousands [of Fijians] had made a beeline for stores to stock up on food and water, and batteries for torches and radio sets. They fixed their homes,” Wesley wrote.

“Some had been proactive and converged on evacuation centres to sit out the cyclone.

“But clearly no one was prepared for the raw power and strength of Winston. The devastation caused by this massive system was overwhelming.”

The editorial, headlined “International support” said:

International support
FIVE days after the most destructive cyclone to hit land in the southern hemisphere struck us, rehabilitation assistance is slowly getting to affected people around the country.

For some, there is relief as the state assistance machinery reaches them. For some others, it is probably not fast enough as food and water supplies start to dwindle.

The process of prioritising areas to target first has been made difficult by the fact that quite a large number of people and areas were badly affected by Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston on Saturday. Add to that the rising death toll and injury list. There can be no doubts about the fact that people were prepared for a cyclone.

Thousands had made a beeline for stores to stock up on food and water, and batteries for torches and radio sets. They fixed their homes. Some had been proactive and converged on evacuation centres to sit out the cyclone.

But clearly no one was prepared for the raw power and strength of Winston. The devastation caused by this massive system was overwhelming. No one was prepared for Winston’s average winds of up to 220km an hour and momentary gusts of up to 315km an hour close to its centre.

That was terrifying strength that turned Winston into a fully-fledged Category 5 mega-storm.

As it swept over Lau, and took a path straight through Lomaiviti, many Fijians battened down for the night, anticipating “just another” cyclone.

Because we are a country prone to such natural disasters, perhaps that has ingrained in us a sense of acceptance of our fate, and of cyclones in general.

That has now changed in the wake of Winston.

As the eye moved over Lomaiviti, the entire country for a moment was enveloped by this massive system that brought with it rain, very strong winds, flash floods and giant waves.

Winston left behind a nation that is now vulnerable. Fijians may be resilient. However, the devastation left behind by Winston is shocking and the recovery process will run into millions of dollars.

The real cost to our nation is yet to be known.

We may even guess the length of our recovery period.

As much as we may insist on being strong to get back on our feet, in such times, the assistance of our friends will be welcomed.

It is encouraging to see the international community rallying in support, to back the recovery process.

They are aiding state efforts by providing supplies, manpower and humanitarian assistance.
Because the cyclone left many Fijians without adequate food, water or shelter and cut-off from essential medical services, there will be some urgency to provide these.

The Indian Government, Australia, the US, the People’s Republic of China, France, New Zealand, Japan, French Polynesia, Tonga, Nauru, and the Asian Development Bank have made pledges in support of the State efforts.

In this, our time of great need, it is good to know that the international community is prepared to come to our assistance. This great show of support and concern is appreciated and will aid in our recovery process.

The onus now is on the powers that be to put in place measures to get needed assistance immediately to every affected Fijian around the country.

Ovalau survivors tell their horror stories as $15m aid flows to Fiji

APR editor — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 20:52:13 +0000

By Akuila Cama of Fiji One News

One of 42 people who perished in Fiji from severe tropical cyclone Winston was a 72-year-old woman, Selai Waqa, from Nauouo village on Ovalau island.

She saved her favorite church dress plus a pocket Bible in her last moments.

Her younger brother recalled the last moments he spent with her before she died after the church collapsed on top of her last Saturday evening as reports came in of mounting international aid pledges to cyclone-ravaged Fiji topping F$15 million.

“‘What happened was when we started getting warnings from the radio, we had our last lunch together and she cooked sausages and after that people came in and told us if they could move into the church,” said Inoke Ravuetaki, Selai’s younger brother

Selai’s only son is a soldier serving in Afghanistan as a Fiji peacekeeper under the United Nations.

Not far from where Selai was laid to rest, her sister-in-law Susan Ravuetaki was struggling to her feet.

Buried in rubble
Susan was buried with Selai under the rubble of the church for almost two hours and she thought she wouldn’t survive.

” I thought we were going to die, that nobody could come and get us because the wind was just too strong. I was watching the people all inside the lali house and when I looked up it looked like the telegraph pole was going to fall.

“Then I saw them all run and I heard Selai crying out for help. I said to Selai, ‘Just lie down because nobody can come and get us now because the wind is just too strong for us’,” said Susan Ravuetaki.

Villagers of Nauouo fled from the first evacuation center which was the church hall before it was destroyed.

They then moved the community hall which later fell before they found shelter at the church and it was not long before it collapsed.

Selai only saved two items from her home before she was moved to the evacuation centre.

” When she came to church for shelter she had a little bag and in that bag we saw on Saturday night when she died was her Bible and her church dress so she came to church ready,” said Inoke Ravuetaki, Selai’s younger brother.

Selai was buried on Sunday morning without a burial order from police.

The village headman, Mataiasi Dakuitoga, said it was a priority for the woman to be laid to rest and he was even willing to go to prison for his actions.

Only one house was spared by Winston in this village.

They may have lost a loved one but for now they will have to be strong.

120,000 children affected
The United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund estimates that up to 120,000 children across Fiji may be the worst affected by the cyclone.

Its estimate comes as the full picture of the worst cyclone ever to hit Fiji becomes more apparent.

The Fiji Times reported UNICEF Pacific representative Karen Allen said children were often the most vulnerable during emergencies and UNICEF continues to support the Fijian government’s efforts in addressing the needs of children.

The organisation has already started its relief work in the affected areas and its officials are also out in the field.

Damage estimated at $1 billion
The estimated cost of damage sustained around the country by Winston is about F$1 billion, the Attorney-General and Minister for Finance, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, announced at a press conference.

Australian aid being delivered to Fiji yesterday. Image: Newswire

According to Sayed-Khaiyum, this was not an “official” figure, however the estimation was derived from inspections of damage around the country.

The Indian government has pledged more than F$2.1 million as a cash grant to the Fijian government for relief efforts and recovery activities, along with medicine, food, tents and transportation helicopter to deliver relief materials.

The Australian government has provided F$7.7 million in humanitarian aid-in-kind. The Australian government has also provided four helicopters for aerial surveying and the transportation of relief supplies, along with two aircraft for aerial surveying.

New Zealand government has provided F$$424,000 in humanitarian aid-in-kind along with four military helicopters, medical supplies, and medical teams.

The HMS Canterbury has also departed for Fiji to provide 40 military personnel to help deliver relief assistance.

100 homes damaged, people from Korovou village cry for help

APR editor — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 01:01:10 +0000

About 100 hundred homes in Korovou village in Tavua have been damaged.

There have been no deaths in the community, but the peoople have pleaded for help.

The affected people are now trying to rebuild their lives.

“My kids went to their aunt’s house and I was alone in the house during the cyclone, the roof got blown off I was still inside the house the second roof went off then I went outside and I ran to my sisters house. For the time being we’re still at my sisters house,” — Maikeli Vueti, resident Korovou Village, Tavua

Watch on Fiji One News

Cyclone ‘flattened’ 10 villages in Fiji’s Ra – now 22,181 evacuees

APR editor — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 00:33:47 +0000

By Shayal Devi of The Fiji Times

Fiji’s coastal district of Nakorotubu, Ra, which includes more than 10 villages and a population of more than 5000 was completely flattened by severe tropical cyclone Winston.

Describing the situation in the province as “ugly”, Commissioner Western Manasa Tagicakibau said initial assessments indicated all homes were destroyed.

“Initial reports state that all homes were blown away,” he said.

A total of 275 evacuation centres are now active in the Western Division, providing temporary shelter to 22,181 people and the death toll has risen to 42.

Ra, one of 14 provinces of Fiji, northern area of the largest island, Viti Levu, has 91 evacuation centres, the highest in the division. The Yasawa islands are just off the northern coast.

The Emergency Operations Centre in the west has not been able to collate data on the number of evacuation centres and evacuees in maritime zones.

As a result, the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in the Western Division has redirected all manpower and resources to the Ra province.

He said the EOC had established communication with heads in Nakorotubu and a team was sent to the province to assess damage.

Brienfings ‘not good’
“The briefings were not good,” he said.

“Ra is an ugly situation and even the EOC team were victims of TC Winston.”

Forty one villages in the province have yet to report their status to the Ra provincial administrator’s operation team in Rakiraki.

Today’s Fiji Times front page.

A team from the Fiji Times was in Rakiraki yesterday where it was confirmed that out of the 93 villages in the province, 41 have yet to establish contact with authorities.

Also confirmed by state officials was that 12,339 people in the province were being sheltered in 107 evacuation centres.

Meanwhile, parts of Nakorotubu District and coastal villages were accessible and relief items will be delivered today.

Up 11 military engineers, 10 police personnel and six engineers from the Fiji Corrections Service will be deployed to the province to conduct damage assessments.

Camp out
Tagicakibau said the team would camp out on the field while collating data.

He said the team would be given ample time to report on the situation in Ra given that communication lines were still affected.

According to Tagicakibau, they needed to ensure that help was provided to the people as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, there are unconfirmed reports that Malake Island also suffered a similar fate.

44 now confirmed dead

42 dead and relief focuses on hardest-hit, says Fiji UN envoy

APR editor — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 12:51:05 +0000

By Lice Movono-Rova of Newswire Fiji

Forty-two people have died as a result of severe tropical cyclone Winston, says Fiji’s Ambassador to the United Nations Peter Thomson.

Ambassador Thomson said in New York all reports indicated the scale of destruction was unlike anything Fiji had ever experienced before.

A statement issued by the Fiji Department of Information said the government continued to assess the damage as it sent emergency crews to the hardest-hit outlying islands.

Ambassador Thomson said:

All reports indicate the scale of destruction is beyond anything experienced before in Fiji.
The Fijian Government’s first concern is to provide humanitarian emergency assistance, food, water, sanitation and shelter to people in dire need.
This process has begun and we are working in close coordination with humanitarian partners to deliver the assistance required.

Fiji’s Representative to the UN said 14,000 people were sheltering in 274 evacuation centres, and a 30-day state of natural disaster had been declared by the government.

Ambassador Thomson is expected to make a joint presentation with the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to member states at the United Nations this Friday.

The government statement said the briefing would include needs assessment information for donors and partners and added the timing was necessary as the briefing would cover a full evaluation of the situation.

Thomson thanked foreign nations and organisations which had provided early assistance. He said it was critical that the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) control and coordinate the relief work.

He added the UN was firmly supporting the work of NDMO.

He said Fijians were by nature resilient and strong of heart and spirit, but the severity of the situation meant Fiji was going to require extensive assistance from the international community in the days, weeks and months ahead.

Allison Penjueli reports people on Vanuabalavu had lost their homes and desperately needed food and water, according to a Suva business woman, Eceli Rosa.

She said this after making first contact with the island since Winston struck at the weekend.

Rosa, who is from Mavana village, chartered a sea plane to make the 90 minute flight, taking relief supplies to the island.

The owner of popular bakery chain, Cakes 2000, Rosa said her top priority had been to check on the health of her mother who lives on Vanuabalavu.

Koro’s nightmare – no chance for the people against Winston’s fury

APR editor — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 07:08:40 +0000

When help finally arrived on Koro Island and the media flew in to bear witness, the scenes were of total devastation.

The sign pointing to Sinuvaca village is still, there but the village itself has vanished. Torn apart by the category 5 severe tropical cyclone.

Fiji Times editor-in-chief Fred Wesley writes in his third editorial in his Cyclone Winston series:
“When problems disappear” …

You only have to look at pictures from the island of Koro to understand and appreciate the strength of what was the strongest cyclone to ever hit Fiji.

Today’s front page of The Fiji Times … the agony of Koro and the vanished village. Image: PMC

Fiji Times photographer Jona Konataci flew to Koro early yesterday morning and returned with pictures that told a story of pain and helplessness. His pictures brought to life the predicament of the people of Koro and spoke of the vulnerability of human beings in the face of mother-nature.

Against a system that was powerful and massive, the people of Koro could only hold on to hope, and pray for an end to the frightening fury of Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston.

It rained on Saturday. That wasn’t the problem though. The rain came in with the cold. But the people of Koro were not prepared for a massive system such as Severe TC Winston.

Cut a path
Packed with average winds of up to 220kmh and momentary gusts of up to 315kmh an hour close to its centre, Severe TC Winston, now a fully-fledged Category 5 mega-storm, swept over Lau, and moved west to cut a path through Lomaiviti.

Koro Island was right in the way. It met the cyclone head on. It was a nightmare. It was terrifying.

Roofs were torn off by the ferocious winds. Homes were blown away and concrete structures looked like they had been pounded by a tank. Nothing, it appeared could withstand the fury and the immense power of Severe TC Winston.

Death stared at the people of Koro.

Of the total number of homes destroyed around the country, 315 alone were on Koro.
The pictures you will see in today’s edition tell a story of destruction. However, there is a touch of hope lurking somewhere there.

Like many other Fijians, the people of Koro are resilient.

As Konataci shot his pictures at the devastated village of Sinuvaca, children posed beside their destroyed school library, standing beside shelves that surprisingly still held neat rows of books.

Out towards one end of the village, a group of men held on to the signpost that pointed out their village.

It read “Sinuvaca Vill”, shortened for “village”.

The only difference was that it now pointed towards a village that was no longer there, flattened by Severe TC Winston.

Playfully pushing
Out on the waterfront, children playfully pushed each other to be seen in a picture taken by Konataci.

Rather instinctively, they gave the victory sign. They smiled for the camera.
Severe TC Winston was gone. They were back to being village children.

As the state machinery shifts a gear to attend to their plight this week, they are beacons of hope for us all.

Innocent, playful and friendly, they can still manage smiles in the face of great adversity. For a few minutes, all the troubles in their little world disappeared.

The harsh reality though is that they need urgent assistance as do thousands of others in affected areas around the country.

We can only hope you will keep them in your thoughts today.

PMC’s Storify daily file on the Winston disaster

Fiji community in NZ rally in support for disaster aftermath

TJ Aumua — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 21:46:27 +0000

By TJ Aumua in Auckland

Auckland’s Fiji community have mobilised together to action disaster relief efforts for their families back home in the Fiji Islands.

Community members assembled in Mangere last night fuelled with emotion and desperate to send help back home.

Those affected in Fiji have requested donations of non-perishable foods, water, blankets, fishing rods and tools that can be used to help the rebuilding process.

The Fijian Community Association of Auckland and the Auckland Mayoral Committee confirmed two shipping containers would be made available soon so those wanting to contribute to relief efforts can donate.

Two main container loading points:
1. South Auckland
City Impact Church
385 Mt Wellington Highway
(Entrance via Apex Centre)
Mt Wellington
Fiji Community contact: Ratu Isoa Soqosoqo 021 269 5925

2. West Auckland
Church Unlimited
3 Te Atatu Road
Glendene
Fiji Community contact: Greg Traill 021 928 551

Relief items needed:
Non-perishable food items
Bottled water
Linen – blankets, sheets, pillows, towels
Clothes
Kitchen utensils
Pots/pans
Mosquito repellents

Money donations:

FIJI RED CROSS
Bank: ANZ Banking Group Ltd.
Account number: Account Number: 1313354 BSB: 010890 (applicable for international deposits)
Account Name : Fiji Red Cross Society Account
Swift code: ANZBFJFX (applicable for international deposits)
Please State in Narrative: TC Winston Fiji Red Cross Appeal and your name, If you need a receipt please contact Fiji Red Cross at: communications@redcross.com.fj

UNICEF
Fiji’s Children Emergency Appeal: Donate through www.unicef.org.au/appeals/fiji-children-s-emergency-appeal

NEW ZEALAND RED CROSS
All their Pacific Disaster Funds will be directed to the Fiji crisis. Make your donation through their website: https://www.redcross.org.nz/donate/where-the-need-is-greatest/

AUCKLAND COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION
Auckland Communities Foundation (ACF) is a charitable foundation and a trusted vehicle that manages Auckland Council Mayoral Fund for the Pacific. Any donations should be made through ACF as follows:
a. Via the “donate now” function on the ACF website: www.aucklandcf.org.nz.
b. Via direct payment to the ACF bank account (with reference “MFP” to ASB Bank account 12-3028-0714703-00)
c. Via cheque made payable to “Auckland Communities Foundation Mayoral Fund for the Pacific” and sent to PO Box 26087, Epsom 1334.

FIJI GOVERNMENT
Donations can be made through the bank accounts below and donors will not be charged any fees, including overseas transactions. International donations can be made through the following account:
Bank: Australia New Zealand Banking Corporation
Account Number: 12628523
Account Name: Prime Minister’s National Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation: Cyclone Winston
Swift Code: ANZ BFJFX
BSB: 010 890
HUMM FM Cyclone Winston Relief Fund Appeal – All funds collected will be given to the Fiji Red Cross. Make a donation to:
ANZ Bank Account: 06-0082-0015961200 Cyclone Winston Relief Fund; or
contact Roshilla on +675 849 7000.

Fiji community members in a Q and A session about the Winston cyclone disaster at a public meeting in Mangere last night. Image: TJ Aumua

The president of the Fiji Community Association of Auckland, Naca Yalimaiwai, says the meeting was about providing “clean communication” on how the community in New Zealand would like to provide effective disaster relief to Fiji. Image: TJ Aumua/PMC

Part of the crowd at the Fiji community meeting in Mangere last night. Image: TJ Aumua/PMC

Villagers of Fiji’s Koro island relay their horrific tales

APR editor — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 20:57:18 +0000

By Cheerieann Wilson of Fiji One News

February 20, 2016, will be a date every single villager on Koro Island in Fiji will never forget.

As the first outsiders to visit since tropical cyclone Winston wreaked havoc over the weekend, cameraman Jese Tuisinu and I were met with heart-wrenching stories of terror and survival.

Pictured is just one of several devastated villages on the island of Koro.

Here 163 people crawled to safety after strong winds and rain wreaked havoc.

Whatever was spared by the strong winds, only to be washed away later by the huge waves crashing on shore.

“We have been used to strong winds when a cyclone warning is issued. This time we did not take it seriously because we have never experienced this kind of weather before,” says Mosese Kikau Daulakeba of Sinuvaca village.

“We did not take it seriously. So when the weather deteriorated we began run around looking for a safe place.”

‘Swimming in the village’
Salala Nadakeke says: “We were swimming in the village. Corrugated iron flying over us while we were trying to swim to safety. We carried our children and grandchildren. The current was too strong.

“I managed to climb up a until I started to lose grip and float around. I then managed to grab a coconut tree which swung me a few times then I managed to secure myself onto the tree.

“Then I managed to grip onto a .. which kept me above water.”

While most children survived – here two lives were lost that fateful day – a 78-year-old grandmother and an infant.

“The father of the child was carrying him, first rush of high current, the second, the third current he did not realise he had lost hold of his child. He realised that his child was dying by his hand,” Daulakeba explains.

Methodist lay preacher Meli Savu Buliti has been living in the village of Sinuvaca for the last four years.

After 40 years, the church underwent renovations last year – now it’s gone.

Shelter in the church
“Many of the villagers looked for shelter in the church because they did not expect the tidal waves. They were only expecting strong winds. The elderly and the weak found temporary shelter in my home – my house at the foot of the hill which the villagers found shelter in,” says Buliti.

“At about 3pm to 4pm the tide began to rise then we began crawling uphill. We tried to safer ground in the school. we then carried the weak, the children and then they crawled up the hill because the current was too strong.”

“When strong winds began more than a hundred houses were destroyed – only one still stands. We then took shelter in a double storey but its roof had been blown off in the wind. We then took shelter at the bottom of the house,” says Amenio Timoci of Namacu village.

“At about 11 o’clock in the morning we began feel very strong winds, the tidal waves came at about 1pm. The wind destroyed all the houses in its path, those concrete houses that remained standing no longer had roofs. It was the strongest winds I’ve experienced,” Timoci says.

“When the tidal waves began to come in, the winds were already causing havoc, we then began to move before the tidal waves reached us. We moved to higher ground,” says Masilina Cabe of Nadakeke, Sinuvaca.

Cyclone Winston aftermath on PMC’s Storify

Despite taking lead on global stage, Fiji pays price for climate crisis

APR editor — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 11:23:56 +0000

The Pacific nation was already struggling to adapt to rising oceans and increasing temperatures when severe tropical cyclone Winston struck, comments Common Dreams staff writer Deidre Fulton.

Less than a week after Fiji became the first of 195 countries to formally sign onto the Paris climate deal, the island nation felt the devastating impacts of global warming first-hand when it was battered by a Category 5 cyclone—one of the biggest ever to hit the Southern Hemisphere.

According to news reports, “monster” Cyclone Winston, which hit over the weekend, brought winds of more than 325 kmh, torrential rain, and waves of up to 12m high.

A month-long state of disaster has been declared, while Oxfam in the Pacific regional director Raijeli Nicole said communication blackspots were making it very hard to assess damage and determine the scale of the response required.

The impact can be seen in the videos on the Storify file of the monster cyclone with the Pacific Media Centre.

An aerial picture showing the flattened village of Tavua on Viti Levu island. Image: RNZ Defence Force

Twenty-nine people have been confirmed dead so far, but as Nicole noted: “Given the intensity of the storm and the images we have seen so far, there are strong concerns that the death toll won’t stop climbing today and that hundreds of people will have seen their homes and livelihoods completely destroyed.”

Tropical Cyclone Winston’s path of devastation across Fiji from Tonga. Image: Newswire Fiji

More than a few experts were quick to link Cyclone Winston to human-caused global warming, saying the extreme weather event was “more painful evidence” of climate change.

Its low-lying coral atolls make the frontline nation “especially vulnerable to sea level rise,” Weather Underground meteorologists Jeff Masters and Bob Henson noted on Friday:

Storm surge from Winston is of particular concern for Fiji, where sea level rise and coastal erosion have already begun to displace people. The nation includes more than 300 islands; some are volcanic in origin, while many of the smaller islands are low-lying coral atolls especially vulnerable to sea level rise.

“The nation has already assisted one small village, Vunidogolo, in moving to a new location as part of its climate change adaptation programme. More than 30 other Fijian villages have been identified as vulnerable.”

“Although it represents only a tiny share of the world’s fossil fuel emissions, Fiji is doing its part to reduce them.

On February 12, Fiji became the first nation on Earth to ratify the global pact on reducing greenhouse emissions that was hammered out at the UN Conference of Parties meeting (COP15) last December in Paris.

Fiji has pledged to boost the renewable share of its electricity generation from around 60 percent in 2013 to near 100 percent by 2030. Together with energy efficiency improvements, this will reduce Fiji’s carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels in 2030 by roughly 30 percent compared to a business-as-usual approach.

Slate staff writer Eric Holthaus pointed out this inherent irony over the weekend. “Fiji is responsible for just 0.04 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions,” he wrote, “and the confluence of this week’s events there highlights the brutal injustice posed by a warming world.”

Republished from Common Dreams with permission under a Creative Commons Share-Alike 3.0 licence.

Visit other Asia Pacific articles on the Fiji cyclone disaster

Earth’s strongest tropical cyclones at landfall. Graphic: Wunderground Blog

29 people dead, 89 injured as Fiji sets up cyclone Winston action plan

APR editor — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 02:48:37 +0000

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama speaking to Fiji after severe tropical cyclone Winston devastated the nation at the weekend. Video: FijiGov

By Peni Shute and Allison Penjueli in Suva

A total of 29 people have lost their lives and 89 injured in Fiji so far due to severe tropical cyclone Winston.

The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) Director, Akapusi Tuifagalele, confirmed this today, reports Newswire Fiji.

He also said there were 13,193 evacuees sheltering in 274 centres around the country. Sixty five schools had been destroyed, 331 homes had been ruined and 139 partially damaged.

Director Tuifagalele said the focus of government in the TC Winston Response Action Plan was to restore the basic needs of people like water and shelter. Tuifagalele said the next priority of government was the restoration of essential services through the various utilities and economic recovery. He said:

These are THE three major priorities that government is worKing on now in the next 30 days during this emergency declaration period.

Meanwhile, the Emergency Committee had a meeting with Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, comprising cabinet ministers and representatives from relevant authorities and DISMAC.

Republic of Fiji Military Forces and NDMO officials load emergency and relief supplies ready for deployment. Image: FijiGov

The Prime Minister has set up a disaster relief fund in response to the devastation caused by Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston.

The Department of Information issued a statement to say monies received in the newly established bank accounts would be used to directly benefit Fijians who have been left homeless, without adequate food, water and essential services. Emphasis would be placed on those in rural and maritime communities.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston, the most devastating storm on record in the Southern Hemisphere had destroyed homes, livelihoods and living many without telecommunications and medical services.

The statement said the government was working hard to coordinate rescue and recovery efforts but said there was a great need for additional resources.

Donations can be made through the bank accounts below and all fees including those for overseas transactions have been waived.

International and local donations can be made to:

Bank: Australia New Zealand Banking Corporation
Account Number: 12628523
Account Name: Prime Minister’s National Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation: Cyclone Winston
Swift Code: ANZ BFJFX
BSB: 010 890

Local donations can be made to:

Bank: Westpac Banking Corporation
Account Number: 9806094927
Account Name: Prime Minister’s National Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation: Cyclone Winston

Bank: Bank of the South Pacific
Account Number: 80399804
Account Name: Prime Minister’s National Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation: Cyclone Winston

Bank: Home Finance Corporation Bank
Account Number: 17822 s10
Account Name: Prime Minister’s National Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation: Cyclone Winston

Fallen hero saves trapped 5 – but dies trying to rescue 15

APR editor — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 22:49:26 +0000

By Sikeli Qounadovu of The Fiji Times

All Fijian Atunaisa Raralevu (No.3) hoped to do was to be able to save 15 people trapped in a house at the height of severe tropical cyclone Winston at Naseibitu Village in Tailevu, Viti Levu.

The 24-year-old farmer had already carried a woman, her three children and another girl to the safest house in the village.

Around 7pm his efforts to try and assist in the evacuation proved fatal, when the then 8m by 5m corrugated iron house that provided shelter for the 15 tilted and buried him.

“He had just returned from the farm and had already saved the woman, her three children and another girl and came to me for a hammer to try and save another 15 who were in that house – that was the last time I saw him,” said his uncle Atunaisa Raralevu (No.2).

He said by the time all 15 had run for cover, his namesake was nowhere to be seen.

It was after strong winds carried the house downhill, that they found his lifeless body lying on the ground with blood gushing out from his nose, ears and eyes and mud filled his mouth.

“He was carried to a nearby house, but all efforts to try and revive him proved futile.

Swam flooded road
“He lay there the whole night and during the day [Sunday], some men from the village swam across the flooded road to call police.

“Police arrived and confirmed the death and when we tried to take him to the Korovou mortuary, police said that was impossible because the power was off.”

Raralevu said they informed their Talatala [spiritual leader], who then conducted a sermon and on Sunday, his namesake was laid to rest.

“What hurts us the most is that he was a very good young man,” he said.

“He always listened to us and carried all church and vanua obligations without any complaining.”

Villagers said it was just unfortunate that he was not accorded a perfect hero’s funeral.

Fiji death toll now 21

More Fiji Times stories from Winston survivors

Fiji police chief warns parents to ‘be sensible’ over child safety

APR editor — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 20:34:10 +0000

By Avinesh Gopal in Suva

Fiji’s Acting Police Commissioner, Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho, has warned parents and guardians to make sensible decisions about the movements of their children in the wake of cyclone Winston.

Brig-Gen Qiliho said police continued to receive calls and information on people, especially children, frequenting regular swimming spots around the country.

He advised people to refrain from water activities, as there was still much damage around the country.

“The safety of people is always our paramount concern and our advice will continue to be given,” he said.

Brig-Gen Qiliho’s comments come after reports of a drowning of a 10-year-old boy of Vuci in Nausori yesterday morning.

Ferocious cyclone Winston batters Fiji

Fiji death toll now 21, plus 8000 homeless in cyclone Winston’s wake

APR editor — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 20:05:57 +0000

The death toll from severe tropical cyclone Winston in Fiji has reached 21 and disaster officials fear this will rise as communications is restored to remote villages.

More than 8000 homeless Fiji people were taking shelter in 50 evacuation centres around the country.

During a media briefing in Suva yesterday, the National Disaster Management Office said there were 20 confirmed deaths.

However, at a later briefing, NDMO director Akapusi Tuifagalele confirmed there had been another death, taking the toll to 21 so far.

The death toll from the monster cyclone is expected to rise still further, reports Dreu Vukailagi for The Fiji Times.

Officials said 8438 people were forced to flee their homes to take shelter in government-designated centres during the height of cyclone.

NDMO’s Tuifagalele said there were nine evacuation centres in the Eastern Division with 121 evacuees, 20 centres in the Central Division housing 1177 evacuees and 22 centres in the Northern Division with 1260 occupants.

In the Western Division, 5880 people from 1032 families are in evacuation centre, reports Losalini Rasoqosoqo.

Flattened homes in Rakiraki, Viti Levu. Image: Fiji One News

Rakiraki badly hit
Fiji One News reports that Rakiraki, on north-west Viti Levu, suffered one of its worst ever cyclones.

Getting through and rebuilding their community is the toughest test yet for the province’s people.

Rakiraki village is home to more than 200 families.

For the elderly who have lived in this village for the past 90 years, TS Winston is the strongest they have experienced.

“I have experienced many cyclones but this is the strongest I have come across,” said 90-year-old Ana Vulavono.

“We did not expect the cyclone to be this strong,” said 73-year-old Malili Bete.

Rakiraki village was affected by strong winds for five hours and this was first cyclone experienced by the younger generation.

100 homes lose roofs
In the village, more than 100 homes are without roof tops and walls.

“Like the cyclone in 1972, we went through the same experience on Saturday night,” said 76-year-old Sikeli Naitura

Even at Namu-i-mada village, the situation was dire.

The elders are coming together to assess the full brunt of cyclone Winston.

“This is the worst ever cyclone to hit this village,” said Emosi Naituna.

Na-viti-levu village is also badly affected.

For these people, they were doing all they could before the government assistance would arrive.

A bulldozer clearing trees off a road near Suva. Image: Joe Yaya

New Zealand will send another Defence Force flight to Fiji and provide an extra $1.8 million in funding, said Foreign Minister Murray McCully.

The new funding, announced yesterday, would bring the total contribution to relief efforts following cyclone Winston to more than $2 million.

The category 5 cyclone made landfall on Saturday, with wind gusts of up to 325kmh and average winds of 230kmh.

How New Zealanders can help
New Zealanders can help efforts on the ground by donating to Red Cross’ Pacific Disaster Fund, which ensures New Zealand Red Cross can respond quickly when a cyclone hits. Donate online at: www.redcross.org.nz

Fiji Times praises resilience of people in face of Winston’s ‘shocking, frightening’ fury

APR editor — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 01:58:04 +0000

Fiji Times editor-in-chief Fred Wesley today praised the people of Fiji for their resilience and courage after severe tropical cyclone Winston punished the country in a “blaze of fury and power” at the weekend.

He described the sudden power the savage storm unleashed on the country as “shocking … frightening”.

Wesley said the daily newspaper had sent out teams of journalists across the country yesterday, leaving at dawn on their mission to bring back stories and pictures of “five hours of horror” during the category 5 cyclone. Here is his Fiji Times editorial, entitled “Show of resilience”:

By Fred Wesley, editor-in-chief of The Fiji Times

Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston went past us in a blaze of fury and power. Winston left behind a trail of destruction that the State is still assessing and people are still coming to terms with.

The official line is that five people [unconfirmed reports put the toll at 17] have died in the wake of Winston’s severe beating of many parts of Fiji.

The power Winston unleashed on the country was shocking. We are yet to truly know the extent of its destructive sweep through Fiji.

Picking up strength after Tonga, Winston developed into a massive Category 5 system that was frightening.

It was unpredictable. At first the projected path curved through the Lau Group and pointed to the southwest of Viti Levu. It was expected to pass pretty close to the capital city.

Winston had other ideas. Picking up power, Winston moved straight to the West, cutting through Lau, Lomaiviti, and brushed over Ra before curving down south again. In its wake, it left flattened houses, uprooted trees, roof-less homes, flooding, frightened people, and death.

Today’s front page of the TC Winston edition of The Fiji Times. Image: Fred Wesley

Scenes of destruction met first responders.

Today we try to bring you a picture of the destruction caused by Winston.

In the face of the horror are tales of heroics intertwined with sadness, frustration, and hope.

We sent teams around the country yesterday. They left at the break of dawn and travelled through scenes of devastation and sadness.

Five hours of horror
They returned with pictures and reports of the five hours of horror many Fijians faced on Saturday night.

A satellite photo showing the furious TC Winston released by the NASA Goddard Rapid Response centre at the weekend.

It was the strongest cyclone Fiji has faced in recorded history. Many relived their night of terror. They spoke of the sense of frustration and helplessness they faced in their own homes. Perhaps it is apt that we shower all those who are working to bring back normality to the lives of thousands of affected people around the country with acknowledgment.

Everyone from the disaster management teams, relief suppliers, NGOs, various charitable bodies, volunteers and the security forces deserve acknowledgment. As the State machinery picks up pace in disaster relief work, perhaps we all should see Winston as a reminder of the power of nature.

We live in a country prone to cyclones and the wrath of mother-nature. Faced with scenarios they came across yesterday, first responders would have been inspired though by the resilience of the people.

And this is something special about Fijians.

We are resilient. To be greeted with smiles, and offered what little they had in the face of the devastation, would have moved even the toughest man and woman.

As we go about our daily chores today, perhaps it would be appreciated if we gave those less fortunate than us some thought as they try to get back on their feet.

Salacieli, 10, tells of her Fiji night of terror as her mum dies

APR editor — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 01:02:44 +0000

By Mere Naleba in Tailevu for The Fiji Times

As strong winds and waves pounded Qelekuro Village in Fiji’s Tailevu province on the main island of Viti Levu on Saturday night, the wails of one-year-old Vive Marama were still heard loud and clear.

Every villager was asking where her mother, Sera Tinai, was.

Marama’s elder sister, 10-year-old Salacieli Serevi, tried to comfort her and every other villager in the darkened village hall also tried to pacify the toddler with pancakes and food.

Villagers said it was probably at the time when Tinai was struggling to survive in waist deep sea water that had seeped into the village.

The body of Tinai, one of 17 victims of severe tropical cyclone Winston (unofficial) so far, was found five metres away from a house where some family members were sheltered.

She still had on her back a bag that contained her children’s clothes, which she had gone to fetch after leaving her children in the village hall.

“She told me to wait here [hall], and that she would come back for us,” Salacieli said.

Flattened home
Yesterday, she and her siblings were at their flattened home trying to pick what was left of it.

Village headman Autiko Naitini said they only noticed Tinai missing when her daughter could not stop crying. They searched for her when the winds had died.

He said Tinai probably was enroute to the village hall when she decided to go to another house used as an evacuation centre to seek shelter as the winds got stronger.

But before she reached that house, the rooftop of another house flew by and landed on her.

Naitini said her bag was stuck to the roof, which could have hampered her movement. That and the sea flooding contributed to Tinai’s sad demise.

She is survived by her husband and nine children.

Cyclone Winston claims 10 lives, destroys century-old iconic tree

APR editor — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 20:43:38 +0000

Ten people lost their lives in Fiji’s Western Division when severe tropical cyclone Winston swept through the country at the weekend leaving a trail of devastation.

And a popular century-old iconic tree in the heart of the capital Suva has been destroyed.

The curfew was lifted at 5.30am today, schools have been given a week-long break and the universities are shut for two days as the clean-up operation continues.

Divisional Planning Officer West Sitiveni Tavaga confirmed the 10 deaths to FBC News.

Seven of the deceased were from Ra; one from Nadi and a 48-year-old from Lautoka.

Two of the seven people who lost their lives in Ra drowned during storm surges at the height of TC Winston – one of them was a 97-year-old.

Of those deaths in Ra, four were hit by flying debris, while one died after a house collapsed.

Three people lost their lives in Nadi – one of whom died during medical evacuation from Ra.

7 fishermen missing
Tavaga also confirmed that seven fishermen from the Yasawas were missing at sea.

They had gone out to sea on Friday and had not been heard from since, officials told FBC News.

Meanwhile, there are 68 evacuation centres billeting 701 families from Navosa, Sigatoka, Nadi, Lautoka, Ba, Tavua and Nadarivatu.

There are currently 4184 evacuees.

Authorities are waiting for water levels to recede before any contact can be made.

DISMAC has also confirmed five deaths yesterday – one from Koro Island, two from Ovalau, one from Qelekuro in Tailevu and one from Nasau in Ra, with the total toll apparently reaching 15.

Fiji One News reports that the famous ivi tree that was a favourite photo shoot venue for tourists was finally ripped in half by the category 5 cyclone Winston. It had survived many cyclones for decades.

Suva City Council workers yesterday cleared parts of the tree that had blocked Victoria Parade, a major city route into the capital.

The ivi tree had been a popular landmark since land sale registrations in 1890 in pre-independence times and is believed to be at least 126 years old.

Live blog: 350.org Pacific tracks cyclone havoc

Tropical cyclone Winston leaves trail of destruction, 1 dead as Fiji counts cost

APR editor — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 21:52:19 +0000

Tropical cyclone Winston hits Suva last evening. Video: Breaking Disaster

By Mere Naleba, Nasik Swami and Sikeli Qounadovu in Suva

Tropical cyclone Winston has left the Fiji Islands today, with the most powerful Pacific storm to ever hit the country leaving a trail of destruction and at least one death in its wake overnight.

As daylight broke, the destruction left behind by Hurricane Winston became visible.

Along the Princes Road between Suva and Nausori, drivers were warned to proceed with caution as fallen trees had blocked off roads.

The curfew imposed at 6pm last night is still in effect and police warned that they would take tough action against people breaking the curfew.

According to the Nadi Weather Office, the category 5 hurricane force winds had died out in some areas and would be downgraded to storm force winds this morning.

The Fiji government yesterday declared a state of emergency and schools have been declared on leave for one week.

Reports described Winston as not only the strongest hurricane in the South Pacific, but in the Southern Hemisphere, with winds reaching more than 300 km/h at its peak.

Senior forecaster Amit Singh said the eye of the hurricane was located closer to Viwa Island. A hurricane warning was in force for the Mamanucas.

The Fiji Times received confirmation of severe damage to houses in Nausori, Korovou, Rakiraki, Ba, Savusavu, Taveuni and the Lau Group.

Houses blown away
Houses have blown away, roof tops been ripped off, and severe damage has been caused to the infrastructure. Power lines have been broken and debris is scattered around the country’s towns and cities.

Asia Pacific Report earlier reported the death of one elderly man when his house collapsed on him on Koro Island.

Suva City Council staff work around the clock trying to clear off fallen trees along the roadside in the capital. Image: Solomone Rabulu/Fiji Times

Director Operations Rusiate Tudravu said police were disappointed that despite numerous warnings and with the State of Natural Disaster in place, members of the public were out enjoying the rain last night or just merely taking a walk.

“We will be having a meeting this morning to come down hard on these people as it seems they are not taking our warnings seriously,” he said.

Tudravu said any injuries would mean extra work for police.

A flattened family home in Ba today. Image: Naziah Ali

He said police were now trying to establish contact with all divisions in the country to determine the extent of the damage and impact left behind in the wake of the cyclone.

“At the moment there is one unconfirmed death of a man in Koro and we are trying to confirm that with police on the island, however there has been no contact.

“We are yet to receive an update from the Western Division because of poor communication.”

Tropical cyclone Winston at 1am today after peaking and moving westwards. Image: NaDraki Weather

Police rescue stranded bus
Police last night had to transport about 60 people to the Suva Grammar School after they were stranded when a Sunbeam bus arrived from the west.

Strong winds off the coast of Laucala Bay also saw about 100 people evacuated from Korova Settlement.

More than 260 evacuation centres around the country were filled and police anticipated the number to increase once they could establish communications.

FBC News reported Education Minister Dr Mahendra Reddy had confirmed that all schools in Fiji would take a week’s break from tomorrow. This would allow parents and students to prepare for school after hurricane Winston had damaged many schools and homes.

“This will allow the management as well to do the clean-up and prepare the school,” he said.

“We will also ensure that we don’t lose any teaching time so the term one break that is supposed to be for two weeks will now be for one week.”

Dr Reddy added initial reports confirmed some schools in the Lomaiviti Group and Rakiraki had been completely “wiped out”.

Mere Naleba, Nasik Swami and Sikeli Qounadovuare reporters on the Fiji Times team covering the disaster.

350.org reports:
“The Fiji Meteorological Service estimated wind gusts near Winston’s center at around 200 mph—strong enough for Winston to be considered the strongest tropical cyclone ever measured in the Southern Hemisphere. Just prior to landfall, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center in Hawai’i estimated Winston’s sustained winds at around 185 mph, based on satellite…

Meteorologist Bob Henson said that prior to landfall, Winston attained a “nearly ideal environment for intensification.” Exceptionally warm ocean temperatures egged on by a record-strength El Niño were a big reason why Winston was so strong. At one point, satellite-based intensity estimates of Winston were a perfect 8.0 on an 8.0 scale. Winston also took a very atypical track to arrive in Fiji, making landfall from the East—the opposite of the usual direction—which may have left residents unprepared, and amounts to a worst case scenario for the island chain.”

NaDraki Weather

Live blog: Hurricane Winston on 350.org

Raging winds batter capital Suva as Cyclone Winston hits Fiji

APR editor — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 11:12:40 +0000

Howling wind rips away at a house roof in Savusavu on the island of Vanua Levu yesterday. Video: Breaking Disaster

Fiji’s capital of Suva was under lockdown last night as tropical cyclone Winston ravaged through the country and hit the main islands of Vanua Levu and Viti Levu.

Raging winds battered the city, damaging some makeshift houses and ripping off sheets of roofing iron.

Fijivillage reported the death of one man on Koro island after his house fell on top of him.

The elderly man was trying to escape from his house but it was too late.

Fifty houses were reported to have been destroyed in the village of Navaga.

The Fiji Times reported Suva was without electricity and police officers were out in numbers patrolling the streets to ensure “criminal elements” did not take advantage of the disaster.

A curfew imposed at 6pm was still in place and people still on the streets in the city were being chased away by police officers.

All businesses had also closed down.

Police Chief of Operations ACP Rusiate Tudravu said they had received reports of broken power lines.

ACP Tudravu said some people travelling to the city from the Western Division were stranded at the Suva bus terminal and police were using their resources to drop them off at their homes.

Cyclone Windsor ravaging in the Savusavu area. Image: Fiji Television

Ripped through Lau group
Fiji Television reported that Winston had earlier ripped through the Lau Group with winds of up to 220 km/h and gusts right up to 315 km/h.

Late yesterday afternoon the cyclone changed track again as it headed between Viti Levu and Vanua Levu but still maintaining it Category 5 status.

Cyclone Winston was located about 50km southwest of Taveuni or about 175km northeast of Suva at 1pm today.

FBC News reported the evacuation centers in Fiji’s four regions had 687people taking shelter.

DISMAC Operations Center officer on duty Vatia Vasuca said the Eastern Division had 116 people, Central 110, Western 20, while Northern had 441 taking shelter last night.

‘Stick together,’ PM tells nation

Live Blog: Fiji hurricane on 350.org

‘Stick together,’ PM tells nation as Cyclone Winston strikes Fiji

APR editor — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 00:24:14 +0000

Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama appealed to the nation today as tropical cyclone Winston hit the country.

“We must stick together as a people and look after each other,” he said.

Tropical Cyclone Winston has begun its assault on Fiji. It is being described as one of the MOST powerful in recorded history – a Category 5 cyclone with winds approaching 300 kilometres an hour. As a nation, we are facing an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We must stick together as a people and look after each other. Be alert and be prepared.

Bainimarama said he was concerned that “some people in urban areas of the country in particular do not appear to have heeded the warnings about the seriousness of the threat we all face”.

The Prime Minister assured the country that his government was thoroughly prepared to deal with ‘this crisis’.

Our evacuation centres are fully operational. And if you have any doubts about the ability of your own home to withstand the onslaught, I urge you to seek shelter where you are most likely to be safe and our officials can assist you.

The Fiji government early today released a list of 758 evacuation centers available for the public to seek refuge as tropical cyclone Winston moved across the islands towards Nadi.

Authorities have advised the nation to take necessary precautions, as experts warned Winston would potentially be one of the most destructive cyclones in recent times.

Tropical Cyclone Winston is intensifying and bearing down on Fiji, says Fiji Meteorological Service director Ravind Kumar. Image: Baljeet Singh/Fiji Times

The Fiji Meteorological Service has confirmed Winston is now a category 5 cyclone.

Many of Fiji Airways and Fiji Link’s international and domestic flights scheduled for today were cancelled, reports The Fiji Times.

Two domestic flights were advanced by a few hours while the aircraft was upgraded for the Nadi-Sydney flight that left at 9am today.

The Nadi-Brisbane flight that was scheduled for 8.40pm was advanced by eight hours and five minutes.

In a statement, Fiji Airways said this was likely to last a few days.

Fees waived
“To assist passengers affected by tropical cyclone Winston, Fiji Airways and Fiji Link is extending a waiver of fees,” the airline said.

“This weather waiver applies for passengers holding a valid ticket issued on or before February 19 for travel between February 19 and February 25.”

Cyclone Winston hits Fiji’s largest island of Vanua Levu. Image: Fiji Village.com

FBC News’ Ellen Stolz reports that authorities had confirmed Savusavu town and Labasa on Vanua Levu island will close at 2pm in preparation for the arrival of the cyclone which was expected to hit the towns about an hour later.

All public transportation was been put on hold and ceased by midday.

Winston is forecast to bring very destructive hurricane force winds with average speeds of 220km/ph to all of Vanua Levu.

On Viti Levu, Nausori Town Council acting chief executive Azam Khan said the Nausori Market would close at 12 noon.

Tips on how to be cyclone smart. Follow @UNICEFPacific

Passengers travelling by air were urged to check Fiji Airline’s website Flight Status for latest updates.

Among the casualties of Winston has been a regional “Human rights and the media” region-wide forum in Nadi involving the Pacific Media Centre and organised by the Pacific Community. It has been postponed for the second time.

Further enquiries can be made by calling the numbers listed below:

Calling from Fiji – 6720888/3304388
Calling from Australia – 1 800 230 150
Calling from New Zealand – 0800 800 178
Calling from the USA and Canada – 1 800 227 4446
Calling from Mainland China – 400 120 6268
Calling from Hong Kong – +852 3192 7568

Live blog: Cyclone Winston @ 350.org

Tropical Cyclone Winston’s double-back path from Tonga westwards across Fiji. Many flights have been cancelled. Image: Newswire Fiji

Cyclone Winston: Flooding closes more west Fiji roads, bridges

APR editor — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 19:49:52 +0000

By Repeka Nasiko in Lautoka

More roads and bridges in the Western Division of Fiji have closed because of heavy rain experienced over the past 24 hours.

The Fiji Meteorological Service announced that a category 1 tropical cyclone, Winston, has been located near Vanuatu and heading south.

According to the National Emergency Operation Centre, 19 roads and bridges in Rakiraki, Tavua, Sigatoka and Ba have been confirmed as flooded.

Rakiraki’s Savusavu bridge and Vunikavikaloa bridge are reported to be both under two metres of water while Ra High School, Barotu Indian school, Dobuilevu Muslim School and Vunikavikaloa High School are closed as a result of the flooded access ways.

The public in Rakiraki have also been advised to keep away from Naqoro flats, Raiwasa mid-road bridge, Nayaulevu Bridge, Saivou Rd and the Vaileka Market which is heavily flooded.

Also flooded are Tavua’s Nabuna Village, Yaladro Flats, Mataniwai Road which is closed off to traffic and Yasiyasi Bridge. All of the areas continue to be monitored by police.

In Ba, Manitawa Rd, Vutuni Bridge and Cemetery Rd have been closed to traffic while Toge Bridge is under two feet of water.

For Sigatoka, Draiba Bridge and Matewale Bridge are both under four feet of water.

“The general public especially those that live in the Tavua and Rakiraki area have been urged to be vigilant due to Tropical Depression 09F causing widespread rain across many areas around Fiji,” the NEOC said.

“A flood warning has now been in force for low lying pocket areas in the western division especially along Rakiraki River including Rakiraki Town.”