Fijians facing a muddy Christmas

FIJI – Fiji’s Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama is calling on every Fijian to share the Christmas spirit through helping those that are in need and those that were affected by Tropical Cyclone Winston and this week’s severe flooding from tropical depression TD04F.

However, the government’s response to the recent flooding has been criticised with Fiji’s opposition Sodelpa party saying relief and recovery efforts after widespread flooding this week should be done at a more grass roots level.

Sodelpa leader Sitiveni Rabuka has added his voice to the call from other parties for the declaration of disaster zones in the worst affected areas.

Rabuka said the quicker that the declaration is made, the quicker assistance can be sought from development partners and the rest of Fiji not affected can also pitch in and do their part.

He said some agencies won’t release assistance without a disaster declaration.

Rabuka said in the meantime, the government should be using more local authorities to assess needs and distribute aid.

“The people who should really be conducting relief work are the commissioners of the various divisions and the Ministry of Regional Development,” Rabuka said.

“They are the ones who are fully abreast with what is happening on the ground and they have machinery, the official networking to be able to do that.”

Currently the National Disaster Management Office is spearheading efforts along with a multi-sectoral assistance from the police, fire service and military and non-governmental help from the Red Cross.

The Red Cross is handing out cleaning kits to communities hit hard by this week’s flooding in an effort to prevent the spread of disease.

Director-general Filipe Nainoca said the hope is access will be restored to communities in the central highlands of Rakiraki within the next few days.

Nainoca said the Red Cross priority is to get fresh water to Rakiraki once access is restored, both for drinking and cleaning.

In the meantime, non-food assistance will be distributed to other communities across the country that they can get to.

“There’s mud everywhere. You know, the floodwaters bring in mud and then after it starts drying out it becomes a health hazard so we are looking to provide cleaning kits which consist of wheel barrows, spades, shovels, brushes, to help these communities clean out their homes and also clean out their communities’ general surroundings,” said Filipe Nainoca.

Nainoca said the Red Cross has only been able to reach ten communities so far.

- PNC sources