One year after Tropical Cyclone Winston struck Fiji, many survivors are still struggling to recover.
Red Cross Director General, Filipe Nainoca said significant progress has been made since the Category 5 cyclone hit on 20 February, 2016, but some people in the worst affected areas of the country are still living in tents or temporary shelters.
“More than 32,000 houses were damaged or destroyed and shelter remains the priority need,” said Nainoca. “The shortage of builders and building materials is delaying people’s ability to repair or reconstruct their homes.”
“Through our Build Back Safer programme we design and build demonstration houses that are built to withstand severe storms. We have also trained more than 60 local carpenters who have taken their skills back to their villages,”
“Our volunteers have been working side by side with local communities on projects that address their priorities. These range from protecting fresh water springs from contamination to repairing and installing toilets to improve sanitation,” said Nainoca. ”Our aim has always been to meet people’s material as well as their emotional needs, ensuring that communities are more resilient to the impacts of future disasters.”
In the past year, Fiji Red Cross has helped 77,000 people with emergency assistance and longer-term support to aid their recovery.
Together with partners of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Fiji Red Cross has also focused on helping people build back safer and stronger homes that are more resistant to future cyclones.
The Red Cross Cyclone Winston recovery operation will continue until the end of May this year.