DREF operation n° MDRLA002
GLIDE n° FL-2011-000077-LAO

The situation

Widespread flash floods which started in the early morning of 30 March particularly in the Western Division of Fiji caused damages to infrastructure, schools, homes, businesses and agriculture. On the afternoon of Monday, 2 April it was confirmed that a tropical depression had formed into a cyclone 600km South West of Fiji, ‘Cyclone Daphne’. The cyclone did not make landfall in Fiji but brought extra rain and strong winds to the affected areas mainly in the West.

It has been reported that there have been four fatalities as a direct result of the floods and there is still one child missing, who was swept away by strong currents.

At the peak of the floods there were 204 activated evacuation centres housing 14,984 people (source: NDMO, 5 April), across the main island of Viti Levu. The government has been working towards closing these centres which are utilizing school buildings, as the Ministry of Education has been focusing on restoring the schools and ensuring the schools resume as quickly as possible. As of Wednesday, 11 April, the government reported that there are 31 active evacuation centres housing 1,800 people in the Western Division and one active evacuation centre in the Central Division, housing 28 people.

As the weather continues to improve, and the flood water recedes in the affected areas, cleaning up process is taking place. The government recently reported that electricity restoration is complete in the areas of Ba, Tavua and Rakiraki, however the areas of Sigatoka, Nadi and Lautoka are still experiencing partial disruptions. The Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) is currently working on restoring the reticulated system in the affected areas. Where there is no available water supply, they have been establishing water tanks and trucking in water along with distributions of bottled water.

There is currently a concern for communicable diseases, typhoid, dengue and leptospirosis. The Ministry of Health has been implementing public health measures to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. These initiatives include food, water and vector surveillance, and health promotion.