Families still wait for shelter

FIJI – Families in some Fijian villages are still waiting for tents and remain in badly damaged homes they say are dangerously unstable.

In Lavena village on Taveuni island, Australian and Fiji government aid has been arriving, but so far only tarpaulins have been delivered, which need to be taken down when winds pick up.

Kelera Mere, the manager of the Lavena Coastal Walk and Lodge, said the New Zealand Rotary Club had pledged to rebuild the primary school, and currently children were learning under tarpaulins and in a small shed.

But Mere said around 20 families had to recently find shelter with friends when Cyclone Zena hit.

“Maybe 20 families are living in that kind of building that is already shaken from the cyclone and last week we just had a little cyclone warning so they tried to move into the community hall and the church so their houses now are not secure. It’s a very dangerous situation.”

Kelera starting to return but they had not been able to stay in the damaged lodge.

- RNZI