The donation of rehabilitation tools and equipment to the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will help clean debris in maritime islands severely affected by Tropical Cyclone Winston.
Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development, and National Disaster Management permanent secretary, Meleti Bainimarama today received the donation from UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, Ms Akiko Fujii in Suva and said that the timely donation will go a long way in helping Fijians in Vanuabalavu and the Lomaiviti Group recover and rebuild after TC Winston.
“The equipment and tools are exclusively for use in the maritime islands, mainly Vanuabalavu and islands in the Lomaiviti Group such as Koro, Ovalau and Batiki. This wonderful donation from UNDP at this time is practical because it is to allow people to start rehabilitating their villages,” Mr Bainimarama said.
“We need to clean debris in the severely affected areas before people move on to the second phase of rehabilitation which is rebuilding houses, agriculture, livestock and fishing. Commissioner Eastern’s Office will distribute this assistance to needy areas.”
Ms Fujii said the assistance financed by the Emergency Cash Grant, is part of rapid response to support the rehabilitation of community infrastructure and clearing of debris.
“Apart from assisting in clearing debris, the donation will help access life-saving basic services, such as health posts and social services centres in the Lomaiviti Province, Eastern Division and in areas that have been identified as priority number 2 by Government,” Ms Fujii said.
The rehabilitation tools, inclusive of chainsaws, brush cutters, wheelbarrows, pinch bars, crow bars, hammers, rechargeable solar lanterns, seven 200Litre drums of fuel as well as kits containing shovels, nails and cutting tools – are valued at $100,000.