Fiji

AT A GLANCE

Region East Asia and Pacific
Risks Reversal of development gains post-disaster; long term economic and fiscal impacts
Area of Engagement Deepening financial protection

Following a successful pilot program, Pacific Island Countries established a sovereign catastrophe risk insurance company for the region, increasing resilience and access to short-term funds needed to respond to disasters.

HIGH VULNERABILITY, LIMITED BUDGETS

Overview

• The Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MoHMS) declared an outbreak of meningococcal C on Tuesday March 20th, 2018.

• The Ministry, through the National Meningococcal Disease Taskforce, continues to coordinate the response to the outbreak, including strengthening surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, clinical management, public health interventions and risk communications.

• The Fijian Government has committed to conducting a mass meningococcal C vaccination program for all Fijians aged 1-19 during this outbreak.

The project is part of an initiative supporting countries and regions prone to El Nino's impacts

18 April 2018, Nadi, Fiji - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Government of Fiji have agreed to collaborate on a project to strengthen the resilience of communities vulnerable to extreme weather events and climate change.

Overview

The Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MoHMS) declared an outbreak of meningococcal disease on Tuesday March 20th, 2018.

The Ministry, through the National Meningococcal Disease Taskforce, continues to coordinate the response to the outbreak, including strengthening surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, clinical management, public health interventions and risk communications.

Meningococcal C vaccination (with ACWY conjugate vaccine-Menactra) was conducted from April 5th for students of Navesau Adventist School.

A. Situation analysis

Description of the disaster

Tropical Cyclone (TC) Keni was initially monitored over the Pacific waters as a Tropical Disturbance 13F (TD13F) analyzed far West of Fiji. TD13F was later upgraded to a Tropical Cyclone Category 1 as it moved East South East towards Fiji.

The project is part of an initiative supporting countries and regions prone to El Nino's impacts

18 April 2018, Nadi, Fiji - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Government of Fiji have agreed to collaborate on a project to strengthen the resilience of communities vulnerable to extreme weather events and climate change.

Fiji's National Disaster Management Office says more than 800 homes on the island of Kadavu have sustained damage from this month's Cyclone Keni.

Read more on Radio New Zealand International.

This situation Report No. 22 was issued from the National Emergency Operation Centre and covers the period from 0800hrs to 2000hrs on Monday 16th April, 2018.

1.0 HIGHLIGHTS:

• Initial Damage Assessment (IDA) Teams have landed in Vunisea and will be deployed today.

• New request of 3,000 food pack for Kadavu submitted to Ministry of Economy.

-- Water Authority of Fiji continue to monitor restoration of water and resources are available 24/7 for emergencies. Water carting continues to areas in need.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon announces £2.9 million for human rights projects across the Commonwealth, with particular focus on the South Pacific and small states.

UK Minister for Human Rights today announces 3 projects to support human rights across the Commonwealth, with particular focus on the South Pacific and small states. This £2.9 million work will support member states, regional organisations and human rights institutions in promoting human rights standards across the Commonwealth, with a focus on equality and adherence to international human rights obligations.

Deforestation, poor forest management and drainage are being blamed for the massive and frequent floods Fiji has seen in recent years.

Read more on Radio New Zealand International.

Fiji's acting prime minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says the recent spate of cyclones in Fiji has destroyed or damaged 19 schools.

Read the full story on Radio New Zealand International.

As part of an ongoing effort to promote disability-inclusive humanitarian action in Pacific countries, this policy brief identifies priority actions for disaster readiness, response and recovery. It has been prepared through a collaborative approach and should be a key reference in the future, promoting coordination across all levels and stages of the humanitarian cycle in the Region.

Promoting inclusion in Pacific humanitarian action

My fellow Fijians,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Bula Vinaka and good evening.

It has been a very trying two weeks for those Fijians who have endured the wrath of the two major tropical cyclones that struck our country; bringing heavy rains, flooding and severe winds that have devastated some communities.

Introduction

Disaster events have lasting impacts on people, communities, and socioeconomic development. Countries in the Pacific are among the most exposed, globally, to natural disasters, including floods, droughts, cyclones, and earthquakes. The effects of climate change threaten to increase the severity and frequency of hazard events in the Pacific region, emphasizing the need for Pacific island countries to protect themselves against corresponding social and economic consequences.

Joint media release

• Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Julie Bishop MP

• Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Senator the Hon Concetta Fierravanti-Wells

The Australian Government extends its sympathies to the Government of Fiji, and to the people of Fiji who have been affected by the Tropical Cyclones Josie and Keni in recent weeks.

On 10 April, the category 3 Tropical Cyclone Keni moved towards Fiji (Fiji Meteorological Service, 10/04/2018). More than 8,900 people are sheltered in evacuation centres across the country (ECHO, 12/04/2018). Western Division and Kadavu Island (Eastern Division) were the most affected areas.
People in affected areas are in urgent need of food and water (Asia Pacific Report, 12/04/2018; Fiji Times, 12/04/2018). There are concerns for people living on Kadavu because of the difficulty in accessing the island and because of challenges with communication following the cyclone.

New Zealand is looking to provide more immediate aid and long term help to Fiji after it was struck by two cyclones and heavy rain in less than two weeks.

Read more on Radio New Zealand International.

The following syndromes have been flagged:

· Acute Fever and Rash: Fiji, Northern Marianna Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu

Other Updates:

Meningococcal disease:

· Outbreak of meningococcal disease group C is ongoing in Fiji. The Fiji MHMS will continue to post updates on PacNet. The last update was posted on 6 April 2018 For details of previous updates please refer to: MHMS media release

Dengue:

· There are ongoing dengue serotype-2 outbreaks in Fiji, Vanuatu. The weekly number of cases (dengue serotype-2) reported is decreasing in Tonga and Samoa

Sally Round, RNZ Pacific Journalist

In the time it took to wake her husband, the seeping floodwaters had crept several inches up Babita Mustafa's legs.

Read more on Radio New Zealand International.

This Situation Report No.17 is issued by the National Emergency Operation Centre and covers the period from 2000 hours – 0800 hours on Thursday, April 12, 2018.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Evacuations Centres in Lau and Lomaiviti in the Eastern Division are now closed as well as the Northern Division EOC’s.

• The total number of active Evacuation Centres is 202 with 8,935 evacuees.

• 23 roads in the Central, 50 roads in the Western and 17 roads in the Northern Division are still closed.