Attachments
Situation
• TC WINSTON made landfall north-east of Suva as a Category 5 cyclone on 20 February. At its peak the Cyclone produced maximum sustained wind speeds of 230 km/h, and gust of up to 325 km/h, making it one of the most severe cyclones to hit the south Pacific.
• According to the National Emergency Operation Centre, 42 people were killed, 151 were injured and 62 461 are sheltered in evacuation centres. 117 schools have been damaged.
• The Fiji Government requested international assistance. The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) is coordinating efforts and has activated the National Operations Centre (NEOC). National and international actors are providing aid.
• On 22 February DG ECHO has deployed an expert from the region to conduct an initial rapid needs assessment. Following the international request for assistance issued by the Government of Fiji and based on ECHO's initial assessment on the ground, the Union Civil Protection Mechanism has been activated.
• France has offered 44 hours of flight time with 2 Airbus CASA aircraft from New Caledonia as well as water purification units and emergency relief items. The two French planes are already operating on site.
• The EU Copernicus satellite mapping service has been activated by DG ECHO's Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) for damage assessment maps on the affected areas.