Drydale Plans More For Koroipita, Includes Climate Change Affected People
The pre-COP23 delegates visited Koroipita Model Town in Naikabula, Lautoka this week.
Speaking at the event the founder for the Koroipita Model Town Peter Drysdale told the delegates more than 100 people of Kiribati and Tuvalu origin were currently living at Koroipita.
“The reason for the people from Kiribati, and Tuvalu to move to Fiji was due to sea level rise in their respective countries,” Mr Drysdale said.
He also added that the houses built in Koroipita were cyclone resistant. “We had 232 houses here during the category 5 Cyclone Winston and the houses sustained no damage,” he added.
“We will be building 34 more houses in 2018 and these will be cyclone resistant as well.”
Mr Drysdale said in order to provide accommodation to those affected by climate change, he came up with the idea of building low cost, cyclone resistant homes. “These houses are a good example which many countries can adapt to when giving shelter to those asylum seekers who are affected by climate change.”
Sam Nikotemo, 53, who moved to Fiji three years ago from Tuvalu due to sea level rise, is currently staying at the Koroipita Model Town.
“I used to stay on Vaitupu Island and everyone from our Island shifted to Fiji three years ago,” Mr Nikotemo said.
“I moved to Koroipita and I stay here with my five children and wife. Around 2000 people from Vaitupu Island were relocated in parts of Fiji because our island is almost underwater.
“Climate change is real and I have witnessed it for myself. The COP23 is a great way to address climate change issues and hopefully countries which think that climate change is not an issue will learn from the conference.”
These houses are a good example which many countries can adapt to when giving shelter to those asylum seekers who are affected by climate change Peter Drysdale Koroipita founder