Disaster

Donations to the Prime Ministers Flood Relief Fund continue to pour in with $51,300 given today to assist those affected by the recent floods.

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, while receiving the donation from the five donors, assured them the money will be very useful in the relief efforts especially to those affected from floods in the Western division.

“I am planning to make another tour of the Western division next week to check on the relief efforts,” Mr Bainimarama said.

The Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Fund today received a further donation of $35,000 from the local business community.

This after the New India Assurance Company donated $25,000 while the Hibiscus Event Group Inc. gave $10,000 with a promise of further assistance in times of disaster.

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, who accepted the cheques, thanked the donors and assured them that the money would be put to effective use.

The Wainivula Methodist Circuit today donated an undisclosed amount of money to the Prime Ministers Flood Relief Fund which was received today by the Ministry of Provincial Development permanent secretary Mr Inia Seruiratu.

“We are indeed thankful to the members and congregation of the Wainivula Methodist Circuit for their contribution and assistance,” Seruiratu said.

He said this donation will be deposited immediately to the Prime Ministers Flood Relief Trust account.

A state of natural disaster in Fiji's Western Division has been extended until February the 19th.

The National Disaster Office says this will give authorities a chance to clean up areas affected by the floods before those evacuated return home.

In Lautoka more than 150 flood affected people remain at the Girmit Centre.

The Fiji Red Cross has also been distributing emergency supplies to people affected by the floods in the Western Division.

Presenter: Geraldine Coutts

Speaker:Eseroma Ledua from the Fiji Red Cross in Suva

The Ministry of Local Government, Urban Development, Housing and Environment today donated cash and kind assistance to the Ministry of Provincial Development and National Disaster Management.

The Minister for Local Government, Mr Samuela Saumatua said the initiative is from his own staff who donated $500 cash towards the PM’s relief fund and also hand-over of items for distribution through Provincial Development.

The Trade Mission of Taiwan to Fiji presented a FJD$30, 000 cheque today to the Fiji Red Cross Society to assist in the rehabilitation of those affected in the Western Division.

The Mission’s representative Mr Ming Chang said Taiwan is always ready to assist during times of disaster.

“Taiwan and Fiji are very small countries and we both have the same challenges so we know how devastating it can be for the people”, Mr Chang said.

“This small assistance is a way of saying to the people of Fiji that we are always here to help one another.”

The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) is in the process of compiling a final report of the damage sustained and will be submitted to donors for funding to allow for the immediate commencement of rehabilitation work.

This was confirmed by the Permanent Secretary for Provincial development and Disaster Management Lieutenant Colonel Inia Seruiratu.

“Priority areas are education, health, agricultural and public utilities and the focus now is on the current adverse weather situation encountered through over Fiji Group,” he said.

The Government of the Republic of Korea through its embassy here in Suva today handed over food items to the Fijian government to be distributed in the western division following the recent flooding.

In handing over the food items worth almost $85,000, the Korean envoy to Fiji, His Excellency, Cheong Hae – Wook said from briefings attended, food rations have been one of the major challenges as many shops in the western division were also underwater.

“No country and people are safe from disasters that Mother Nature brings about”, Ambasador Hae-Wook said.

Following the recent visit to Fiji by the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Federation this week donated $20,000 USD ($34,705 FJD) to the Fiji Red Cross Society as flood relief assistance.

Fiji Red Cross Society disaster youth coordinator, Eseroma Ledua said that donations as such were used for the replenishment of disaster stocks in strengthening logistics on the ground.

“Our volunteers are currently working in Ba and Nadi, we have completed our delivery of food supplies to families that were affected during the recent floods,” Mr Ledua said.