Red Cross Volunteers Responding After Cyclone Winston

22 February 2016

Red Cross Volunteers Responding After Cyclone Winston

As Fiji continues to clean up after Cyclone Winston, Red Cross is praising the life-saving work of its local volunteers and staff.

Category five Cyclone Winston tore through Fiji during the weekend, destroying homes, schools and infrastructure. Ahead of the cyclone, more than 300 Red Cross volunteers were mobilised, supporting at-risk communities and people in evacuation centres.

New Zealand Red Cross Secretary General Tony Paine says the strength and preparedness of Fiji Red Cross and its volunteers helped communities get through safely.

“Fiji Red Cross was well-prepared and even before the cyclone hit, had an army of local volunteers ready to help.

“We know the impact of Cyclone Winston will be felt for a long time, but the work of Fiji Red Cross has prevented the impact being a lot worse.”

Fiji Red Cross is today continuing to respond across the country. The organisation has 22 relief containers prepositioned in Fiji, stocked with enough shelter, water and hygiene supplies for 12,500 people.

Kiwis who want to help can donate to Red Cross’ Pacific Disaster Fund, which will be used to help directly on the ground in Fiji.

New Zealand Red Cross supports many of its partner Red Cross’ in the Pacific through development and disaster preparedness programmes. The aim is to empower local societies, building their capacity to respond to and recover from natural disasters like cyclones.

New Zealand Red Cross general manager of fundraising and communication Alice Montague says the response to Cyclone Winston highlights how important this work is.

“Our goal is to help communities be as prepared as possible, because we know this saves lives. We’ve seen this after Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu, and now in the wake of Cyclone Winston in Fiji and Tonga.

“It’s local people who respond first and have the power to make an immediate difference in their community following a cyclone. Red Cross works year-round to ensure communities have this capacity.”

Red Cross has been active in Fiji for more than 60 years - first as a branch of the British Red Cross, then as an independent national society from 1971.

How to help:

Kiwis wanting to help can donate to Red Cross’ Pacific Disaster Fund. Donate online at www.redcross.org.nz/donate.

New Zealand Red Cross does not accept clothing, food or other goods, as they can clog up airports and ports and distract humanitarian workers from more important tasks. Often the cost of transporting goods is more than the value of goods themselves.

We also work to ensure people receive goods that are equitable, quality and appropriate, and when we can we buy from local supplies which helps the local economy after a disaster.

Cash moves fast, is more easily collected, transferred, distributed and accounted for.

ENDS

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