Government, through the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) and the Ministry of Education, is pursuing a disaster plan to help people during times of natural disasters.
Commissioner Western Joeli Cawaki said they have learnt their lesson over the years especially in times of flooding or a hurricane.
“The NDMO and the Ministry of Education have come up with a strategic plan to make sure that education and programmes continue at evacuation centres,” Mr Cawaki said.
Fijian communities and friends of Fiji in Europe came together this week in an overwhelming show of support for Fiji’s flood victims at the Woluwe Cultural Centre in Brussels, Belgium.
The cultural concert fundraiser was opened by the Head of the Pacific Division in the European External Action Service (EEAS), Mr. Ranieri Sabatucci and marked the culmination of six weeks of preparation for this event.
Supporters to this cause included the diplomatic community and friends of Fiji in Brussels and the Fiji diaspora in Germany, the Netherlands, France, Wales and Belgium.
Volunteers are a critical component of disaster operations especially during natural disasters says the Ministry of Provincial Development permanent secretary Inia Seruiratu.
He says that while Fiji’s volunteer programme is still new, during disasters people go out of their way to help those in need.
“Volunteers are important to us (National Disaster Management Office) and during natural disasters we rely on them which makes them very critical to our work”, Mr Seruiratu said.
“So the establishment of the National Volunteer Scheme is very important.”
People affected from the January and March floods in the western division can expect to continue receiving supplies thanks to the generosity of the many organisations who have contributed for those affected.
This was the comment by the Ministry of Provincial Development and Disaster Management permanent secretary, Mr Inia Seruiratu, as he received donated food items from the Latter Day Saints church in Suva today.
The $55,000 worth of food items includes bottled water, rice, sugar, tin fish and biscuits among others.
THE continuous generous donation by business houses and individuals to the Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Fund is enabling Government to assist those who were severely affected by the two floods.
The Prime Minister’s Office received over $168,078 in donation this morning from a variety of business houses and one individual, a social welfare recipient who turned up this morning to support the relief fund.
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama thanked all the groups and reminded them that whatever the amount, Government was happy that they felt for their fellow citizens.
Flood relief assistance continues to pour in from various organisations and individual countries for the victims affected in the recent floods in the Western Division.
More than $3million was donated to the Prime Minister Flood Appeal Relief Fund out of which $1.5 million was released for rehabilitation works.
The Ministry of Provincial Development permanent secretary Mr Inia Seruiratu said flood assessments had been submitted to Cabinet already and they continue to focus on recovery and rehabilitation works.
The Ministry of Works and Public Utilities today presented a sum of $3520 to the Ministry of Provincial Development which will go towards the Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Fund.
Deputy Secretary Transport and Energy (DSTE), Mr Malakai Tadulala said today’s event reflected his Ministry’s concern for the welfare of those who suffered in the Western division from the recent floods. He said the donation would assist in the on-going rehabilitation works.
A partnership between the Land and Water Resource Management Division (LWRM) of the Department of Agriculture and the Central Division Drainage Board was signed this morning at the Agriculture Department Headquarters in Raiwaqa.
This is to undertake the Daku Village climate change adaptation measures for drainage improvement and salt water intrusion protection works.
The recent floods in Nadi left devastating marks on disadvantaged communities; incurring loss of properties and personal belongings for poor families. The women from Nawaka and Navakai in Nadi who had suffered from the recent flooding, had a reason to smile yesterday after receiving donations that will provide them with a new hope to rebuild their lives.
Asco Motors’s Toyota Tsusho South Pacific Holdings and the Fiji Motors Association made a donation to the Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Appeal Fund today.
Asco Motors chief executive officer Abdul Hafiz said the recent floods were the worst to hit Fiji in decades, which resulted in widespread devastation including loss of life and severe damage to infrastructure, homes, crops, motor vehicles, animals, shops and schools.
The impact of flooding is expected to ease in the Navua Delta as the dredging works in the river got underway recently.
Dredging works will allow for an increased flow capacity with the removal of silt and sand forming at the mouth of the river.
This will also improve access navigation to islands outside the Navua periphery and those that are using Navua River as their route for transportation.
In light of the recent adverse weather conditions around the country, the Housing Authority of Fiji is extending its flood assistance program by offering a nation wide discount to its customers ground rent accounts.
Effective immediately, Housing Authority leased land customers who make payment till 31st May, 2012 will receive a discount of 8 percent.
Thereafter ground rent customers will receive a 6 percent discount until June 30th and a 4 percent discount will be in place for the month of July, 2012.
The Clean-Up Campaign organized by the RFMF Plan of operation and distribution of resources continues with a total of 50 RFMF personnel, 30 are based in Lautoka and 20 are based in Nadi.
The NEOC together with the District EOCs continues to monitor the situation on the ground.
The NEOC will now be manned by NDMO staff daily beginning from tomorrow 2nd May, 2012.
The 10 day extension of the declaration of the State of Natural Disaster for affected areas in the Western Division ends today.
The Clean-Up Campaign organized by the RFMF Plan of operation and distribution of resources has commenced today.
The NEOC together with the District EOCs continues to monitor the situation on the ground.
Distribution of relief items continue in affected areas through the coordinated effort of government and non-government agencies with the assistance of aid from donor partners and organizations.
This week Fiji’s High Commissioner to PNG, HE Dr. Niumaia Tabunakawai handed over Flood Relief Supplies to the Chief Executive Officer of Air Niugini, Mr Wasantha Kamarasiri, at the Jackson’s Airport, Port Moresby.
Air Niugini offered to airlift Relief Supplies to Fiji free of charge.
Mr Kamarasiri said this was the least Air Niugini could do to assist Fiji and its people recover from the recent disaster affecting the country.
The NEOC together with the District EOCs continues to monitor the situation on the ground.
Distribution of relief items continue in affected areas through the coordinated effort of government and nongovernment agencies with the assistance of aid from donor partners and organizations.
Damage assessments reports have been compiled by the respective Agencies for the preparation of rehabilitation plans.
The NEOC together with the District EOCs continues to monitor the situation on the ground.
Distribution of relief items continue in affected areas through the coordinated effort of government and nongovernment agencies with the assistance of aid from donor partners and organizations.
Damage assessments reports have been compiled by the respective Agencies for the preparation of rehabilitation plans.
Post disaster health assessments and awareness continue in the Western division.
