Suva, Fiji, December 19, 2020
Red Cross volunteers are helping to assess the damage in Fiji from Cyclone Yasa and distributing emergency supplies.
The Category Five storm brought gales gusting to speeds of 345km/h on the island of Vanua Levu and two people have died – a three-month-old baby and a 45-year-old man – and left thousands more homeless.
Nearly $140,000 worth of supplies will be handed out over the next month.
Fiji Red Cross Operations Manager Maciu Nokelvu said that six teams of volunteers are in the worst affected areas, helping people in need.
“Providing them with non-food relief items which include tarpaulins for temporary shelters, dry foods and cooking utensils,” he said.
Damage being assessed
They are also assessing the full extent of the damage, which so far includes flattened homes, downed power lines and land stripped of vegetation.
Fiji’s Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said that his country Cyclone Yasa would cost hundreds of million dollars to his country.
He said that the authorities were scrambling to help affected communities.
Fiji’s National Disaster Management Office yesterday (Friday, December 19, 2020) said in a statement that Cyclone Yasa affected more than 93,000 Fijians and the number of casualties may rise when communications are restored to some areas.
There are 23,430 Fijians in evacuation centres across the country, it said.
Curfew in place
A curfew was in place overnight in Fiji.
The United Nations is ready to deploy staff on the ground, and airlift supplies from Brisbane, while New Zealand is sending aid along with an Air Force Orion to Fiji to assess the damage.
Fiji Social Services Director Vani Catanagasiga said that the damage was extensive, particularly in the Northern Division of Vanua Levu.
“It has been a tough year for Fiji and we have had three cyclones earlier this year. One was Tropical Cyclone Harold (Category 4) and of course Covid-19. We are looking at how else we can work together as a country to recover from one of the toughest years. It is not going to be a bright Christmas for us, but we have been through worse,” she said.
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