Australia will help Fijian families with further flood relief assistance, the Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Chris Gallus, announced today.
'Australia is funding urgent relief to isolated communities and helping Fijian authorities determine damage and relief needs,' Mrs Gallus said.
'Australia is working with FRANZ agreement partners, France and New Zealand, to replenish Fiji Red Cross supplies, funding up to 300 Emergency Shelter Kits that include hurricane lanterns, blankets, cooking utensils and kerosene cookers.
'More than 400 large tarpaulins and collapsible water containers are being delivered by Australia along with more than 200,000 water purification tablets for clean drinking water,' Mrs Gallus said.
'Australia is ready to help further with our assistance now at more than $150,000.
'Ten people have been confirmed dead and a further 10 people are still missing with damage to crops, livestock, houses, roads and bridges,' Mrs Gallus said. 'Localised damage has been reported in the North of Fiji's main island, Viti Levu, and in the Yasawa Island Group.
'According to Fiji's Disaster Management Centre, more than 17,000 people need assistance and a further 2,700 people have been evacuated,' Mrs Gallus said.
Australians wanting to help can donate through the Australian Foundation for Peoples of Asia and South Pacific Limited on 1800 007 308 or on the website at www.afap.org.
Media contacts:
Shane Fairlie (Mrs Gallus' office) 02
6277 4840 or 0408 680 442
Dominic Morice (AusAID) (02) 6206 4220 or 0417 683 126