Fiji

PX airlifts Fiji relief supplies

The relief supplies in 225 boxes containing mattresses, tents and plastic rolls were donated by JICA in Singapore. Air Niugini uplifted the supplies from Singapore to Port Moresby yesterday and now to Nadi, Fiji.

Since Cyclone Winston swept through Fiji over the weekend, more than 40 deaths were recorded, thousands of people made homeless and millions of dollars’ worth of damage done to properties and infrastructure.

PX 084 departed Port Moresby at 10am; it should arrive at Nadi airport by 4:10pm. This flight goes via Honiara, Solomon Islands.

International aid continues to flow to Fiji

Fiji's government received the grant from Nauru's Secretary for Foreign Affairs Michael Aroi who presented it in Suva on Friday.

Mr Aroi said the people of Nauru were saddened by the loss of lives and the devastation caused by Cyclone Winston.

He said Nauru was hopeful the donation would help the people of Fiji recover from the tragic ordeal.

Meanwhile, the Australian Navy ship, HMAS Canberra, had been deployed to Fiji with more than 800 personnel onboard to help with the country's recovery from Cyclone Winston.

Nearly 60,000 in evacuation centres in Fiji

Spokesperson Ewan Perrin said that number continued to rise as communication was restored to affected areas.

Mr Perrin said, at this stage, there was enough aid in the evacuation centres to go around.

"We've got sufficient essential resources - food, water, medical resources at the moment. We have been very fortunate, the international community has provided a lot of aid and assistance, a lot of materials for us as well.

"So we are able to top those up as we need. We just need to keep an eye on that and see how it goes over the next few days."

Pacific lawyers meet to discuss climate change accountability

Greenpeace, in association with the Pacific Island Association of NGOs (PIANGO) has organised the legal get-together, initiated during a June 2015 meeting on climate change impacts between NGOs and community representatives from Vanuatu, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Fiji, Solomon Islands and the Philippines.

Matisse Walkden-Brown, the head of Greenpeace Australia Pacific’s climate justice project, said:

Fiji death toll from Winston rises to 42

The death toll is expected to increase as remote areas of the country believed to have been hard hit by the category 5 storm have yet to be contacted.

Fiji Village reports more than 13,000 people are currently sheltering at 274 evacuation centres around the country.

About 64 schools have been badly damaged and the number is expected to increase further.

The director of Fiji's disaster management office said people who needed food and water after cyclone Winston should go to evacuation centres.

Death toll from Cyclone Winston in Fiji now stands at 36

This was confirmed by National Disaster Management Minister Inia Seruiratu today.

Families are being advised to, as soon as possible, bury or cremate bodies of those who have died as a result of Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston.

Commissioner Western Manasa Tagicakibau says there are no facilities to store bodies for a lengthy period.

“We are talking about bodies – the deceased – we cannot really bring them to the mortuary because there is no power – so their best option is to have them buried quickly and deal with all other protocols later.”

Air Niugini to resume flights to Fiji

The decision to resume services was made after all risk assessments were carried out over the last two days and clearance given.

Air Niugini cancelled its service to Nadi on Saturday (Feb 20) due to Cyclone Winston which swept through the country over the weekend, causing millions of dollars worth of damage to properties and infrastructure, several deaths were recorded and thousands of people made homeless.

Flight PX 084 only operated to Honiara, Solomon Islands and back, the Honiara/Nadi sector was cancelled.

Fiji after Winston - concerns over water, food, sickness

It destroyed entire villages, flooding low-lying areas, and wiped out crops. The death toll from Cyclone Winston now stands at 29, and it is feared that number will rise further when communication is restored to outlying islands.

Lovu, on the main island of Viti Levu, was one of the areas badly lashed by the category five storm, and residents living in a squatter settlement there have described it as the scariest experience of their lives.

About 300 families live at the settlement. Some of the homes are destroyed, with families living on what is left of the foundations.

200 homes suffer damages from TC Winston

This was confirmed to Radio Tonga News by the Director of the National Emergency Management Office, Leveni 'Aho after a government team completed its initial assessment of the island on Saturday.

The assessment found minor structural damages to some of the schools, Prince Ngu hospital and two causeways. 

Severe damage was inflicted on fruit trees such as breadfruits, bananas and coconuts.

More than 2,000 people were sheltered in town and district halls across the island during the cyclone.

UNISDR commends Fiji Government for its states of preparedness

He commended the government for its efforts to reduce mortality and the numbers of people affected by the strongest cyclone ever to hit the Pacific country.