UN gives US$1m for TC Harold affected

The United Nations Emergency Relief Co-ordinator has allocated US$1 million (FJ$2.22m) to support our Government’s Emergency Response. The response is being co-ordinated by the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO).

United Nations Resident Co-ordinator Sanaka Samarashina, who is based in Suva said the fund would be allocated to priority areas in context to the response to Tropical Cyclone Harold.

Speaking about the priority areas the fund would allocate to, Mr Samarashina said: “These would include shelter, food security, water and sanitation. We would want to support the national efforts being made to restore livelihoods and self-reliance by re-establishing food security.”

Given the severity of TC Harold in Fiji, the most affected area were in the Eastern Division (Kadavu and Southern Lau). It is anticipated that the recovery and reconstruction of these areas will take up to 18 months.

In a proposal to the UN, Fiji had requested the UN to release US$3 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund to support emergency costs over the next two months.

NDMO remains in close contact with the UN Emergency Relief and continues to work closely with relevant agencies.

Damage assessments are currently being conducted by the NDMO. The Australian Government has provided over $500,000 in cash and in kind, New Zealand over $300,000 in cash and in kind, and the Chinese government provided US$100,000 (FJ$222,325) to finance relief efforts.