13/04/2020
Fijian Government MEDIA RELEASE: DECLARATION OF NATURAL DISASTER ( )
Source: Lau Provincial Council Office on Tuesday 14 April 2020.
On Sunday 12th April, 2020 upon the advice of the Emergency Committee, the government has declared Tropical Cyclone Harold as a State of Natural Disaster for the following areas:
1. Eastern Division (Kadavu and Southern Lau)
2. Central Division: Tailevu North, Korovou, Nausori, Nakasi, Beqa and Yanuca
3. Western Division: District of Nadarivatu, Vatulele, the Mamanuca Group, the Yasawa Group, coastal communities in the Coral Coast and along the Sigatoka River in the Nadroga/ Navosa Province.
This is to exercise the powers conferred on the Cabinet by section 17 of the Natural Disaster Management Act 1998.
SITUATION UPDATE:
As of this morning, we have sixty six (66) active evacuation centres and 1,837 evacuees in the three (3) divisions: Central, Western and Eastern.
The Central Division have 21 Evacuation Centres with 384 Evacuees, The Western Division has 16 Evacuation Centres with 386 Evacuees while the Eastern Division have a total of 29 active Evacuation Centres with 1,067 Evacuees.
Today, we have started the distribution of food rations to the Central Division, the Western Division will start tomorrow while the Eastern Division will be deployed today.
WHAT WE HAVE DONE:
We have conducted the Initial Damage Assessment to the four divisions.
We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 protocols in the Evacuation Centres.
Public Safety is always PARAMOUNT to us.
WHAT ARE WE DOING NOW:
DEPLOYMENT:
At this hour, all officers who are travelling to the islands have already been screened by the Ministry of Health and loading is taking place at the Natovi Jetty. This to supply food rations and other immediate relief supplies.
Lau Deployment:
MV Ohana will carry officials, relief items and supplies to the Lower Southern Lau including Ono-I-Lau, Vatoa, Ogea, Fulaga and Kabara. This boat will leave today.
MV Spirit of Love will also depart today and will cover Yasayasa Moala including Matuku, Totoya and Moala Island.
Kadavu Deployment:
MV SPIRIT OF HARMONY will cover South of Kadavu distributing supplies, food rations and officials who will conduct detail damage assessment.
MV ALTRUISM will cover the East of Kadavu carrying relief supplies, food rations and officials to carry our detail damage assessment.
All these boats are expected to arrive into their destinations tomorrow where our officers have been advice to prioritize distributing food and relief items to those affected.
West Deployment
Government vessel – Vatulawa which is already berthed in Lautoka will carry cargo to Yasawa and Mamanuca Group while the MV Sea bus will carry officials who will conduct detail damage assessment.
MV Sigavou will cover Vatulele/Beqa and Yanuca. Food rations, relief supplies and officials will be leave tomorrow.
FUNDING and ASSISTANCE SO FAR:
This deployment will be funded by the Prime Ministers Rehabilitation and Relief Fund.
In addition we would like to thank The Australian and New Zealand Government who have also contributed towards this deployment.
This morning we have also received donations of 73 Emergency Response Kit from the Rotary Fiji in collaboration with Rotary New Zealand and a total of 250 Emergency Response Kits are being deployed to Kadavu and Southern Lau.
WHO IS INVOLVED:
The officers who are part of this deployment including members of the Fiji Military Forces, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, I-Taukei Affairs, Water Authority, Telecom Fiji Limited, Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Red Cross, Mineral Resources Department, Empower Pacific, Forestry and the NDMO.
These officers are going to be involved in Damage Assessment, Ration Distribution and Health Treatment for those who need it.
The team will be deployed for 14 days and we will provide ground information once we received them to keep the general public updated.
-ENDS-
Cc. Fiji National Disaster Management Office NDMO
