Fiji: Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston Situation Report No. 3 (as of 23 February 2016)

Highlights

• On 20 and 21 February Category 5 Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston cut a path of destruction across Fiji.

• The cyclone is estimated to be one of the most severe ever to hit the South Pacific.

• 28 people have been confirmed dead.

• At least 1 person is missing.

• Whole villages have been destroyed on the island of Koro where a relief and assessment ship has now arrived.

• Some 14,000 people are currently sheltering in 274 evacuation centres.

• At least 364 dwellings have been destroyed.

• 65 schools have been damaged or destroyed.

• A 30 day State of Natural Disaster has been declared.

• International assistance has officially been requested by the Fiji Government.

Situation Overview

The Fiji Government has confirmed that 28 people were killed when Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston cut a path of destruction across the country on 20-21 February. Relief supplies and assessment teams have now arrived on Koro Island after aerial assessments by New Zealand Defence Force P3 Orion aircraft revealed extensive damage across the Lomaiviti Group and other outer islands.

Access and communications difficulties remain a constraint for assessments. Power is back intermittently in most parts of Suva but remains out across many parts of the country. Almost 14,000 people are sheltering in 274 evacuation centres around Fiji. Schools have been closed for the week and the Government has indicated that restoring education is its top priority for the response over the coming days. The Government has launched an appeal for public donations to assist victims of the cyclone.