Fijians facing uncertain Christmas

Fijians facing uncertain Christmas

Cyclone Evan left a path of destruction throughout Fiji, leaving thousands of people without power, water and, in many cases, homes a week before Christmas.

ADRA Country Director, Mr. Save Cavalevu, says that while the cyclone has passed, response and recovery is just beginning. Such has been the extent of damage to communication facilities that information is still coming through from districts around the country regarding the extent of the devastation.

“We have had two devastating floods in January and March that severely affected the Nadi, Ba and Nadroga districts. Then came Cyclone Evan. Needless to say, it has been a very difficult year for people living here,” says Cavalevu

Thousands of Fijians who fled their homes and entered evacuations centres are now returning to damaged or destroyed homes.

“I’ve worked in disasters for many years now but I went to my village yesterday and I was close to tears. I didn’t want my community to see me that way so I held back, but inside, I was heartbroken,” says Wasiea Naiseo.

Mr. Naiseo’s village, Saravi, had 25 families living in 17 houses. Of the 17, only four are currently liveable while the rest may take many months to rebuild or repair.

Ole Seruwaia says her focus is on keeping her family’s spirits up as they go through this difficult time during the Christmas season.

“My husband and I haven’t been able to work since the evacuation started on Sunday. We know that we need to work in order to pay for the rebuilding of our home but its hard when you have four children living in an evacuation centre to go back to work,” says Ms. Seruwaia.

The rebuilding process may take months, leaving people like Ms. Seruwaia and Mr. Naiseo without a home on Christmas.

“Normally, this time of year, we would be preparing for Christmas in our homes with our children. I understand, people want to forget all the suffering in the world, all these disasters for one day on Christmas. I have that same wish too but I really hope that this Christmas, people will think of Fiji and Samoa and give just a little bit. Anything will help us and it would be such a gift to us all,” said Mr. Naiseo.

ADRA is the worldwide humanitarian arm of the Seventh Day Adventist Church and operates in over 120 countries. To donate to the ADRA New Zealand Cyclone Evan Relief Appeal, please call 0800 4999111 or visit http://adra.org.nz/products-page/donate/

Background

ADRA stands for the Adventist Development and Relief Agency. ADRA is the worldwide humanitarian arm of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. It operates in over 120 countries to relieve human suffering regardless of a person’s ethnicity, race, gender, or political or religious association. ADRA partners with communities, organisations and governments to implement community development and emergency management projects for people facing hardship and poverty.

For Tropical Cyclone Evan, ADRA New Zealand has mobilised its Emergency Response Team to Fiji and Samoa to work with local ADRA offices and the community to provide relief such as food aid and assistance with water and sanitation. To support this response, ADRA New Zealand has launched an appeal and is now calling for donations.

Further information on ADRA is available at www.adra.org.nz

ENDS

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