Fiji Sun

Navia: My Heart Cries Out for Those Affected

- JENNIS NAIDU Edited by Ranoba Baoa Feedback: com.fj jennis.naidu@fijisun.

Miliana Navia, Navuniyaum­unu Village in Ra, who is a student in Japan, said even though she was out of Typhoon Hagibis’ route, her heart cried out for her Fijian brothers and sisters who were affected.

“I do feel for those who were directly affected and I also kept checking social media posts by friends who are in the affected areas,” he said.

The 33-year-old, staying in Sapporo, Hokkaido, said her area was unaffected, without even a drop of rainfall on Saturday.

The former Jasper Williams High School student said that despite the storm moving in a certain direction, she was prepared in the case the typhoon changed its direction.

“In terms of preparatio­n, I went to a shopping mart yesterday to buy bottled water, bread, some tinned food, just in case the typhoon decided to come visit Sapporo.”

Ms Navia, who has five more months to complete her environmen­tal science degree at the Hokkaido University in Japan, said that she kept constant tabs on social media for updates on one of the strongest storms to hit Japan.

“Well I think it’s rather unfortunat­e, especially when

My friends are all okay. I am really not sure about other Fijians out there in the way of Hagibis. I hope and pray that they’re okay. Miliana Navia Hokkaido University student

the affected area - Chiba is still trying to recover from the last typhoon (Faxai) and now being hit again by Hagibis.”

“My friends are all okay. I am really not sure about other Fijians out there in the way of Hagibis.

“I hope and pray that they’re okay.”

The Hokkaido University student wishes to let her family in Suva know that she is safe. Typhoon Hagabis affected Kanagawa, Shizuoka, Chiba and Tokyo regions of Japan.

Ms Navia was an Environmen­t Officer at the Department of the Environmen­t before she headed to Japan to further her education through the Japan Internatio­nal Co-operation Agency (JICA) scholarshi­ps programme and has been there since August, 2017.

 ??  ?? Miliana Navia, a student at Hokkaido University.
Miliana Navia, a student at Hokkaido University.

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