KUMAR SEARCHES FOREST FOR TIMBER TO FIX DAMAGED HOME IN VUNIVAU, LABASA
Sanjay Kumar of Vunivau, Labasa, is searching through the forest in Bua for timber to help rebuild his home that was damaged by Cyclone Yasa last month.
Still reeling in pain for his loss, the 48-year-old unemployed father is doing his best to accommodate his family, especially his children. Mr Kumar and his family had moved from Dreketi to Labasa for the sake of their children’s education. He built a two-bedroom house in Vunivau five years ago. He has four daughters.
“I worked in many places, including Valebasoga Tropik Board Limited, cut grass in Qawa and worked as a sugarcane labourer just to collect money to build a house in Labasa,” Mr Kumar said.
“I can’t believe that just within hours my house was destroyed.” Today, Mr Kumar, his wife and two of his daughters are now living with in-laws in Bua.
“My youngest daughter needs to go to Year 13 and the other will be enrolling at the University of South Pacific this year,” he said.
“My eldest daughter is married while the second one is in Suva studying at the Fiji National University under the Tertiary Education Loan Scheme (TELS).”
He said the roof of his in-laws’ house was also blown away during the storm last month.
His wife, Neelam Narayan, said everywhere they went to, they saw disaster.
“Everyone has been affected in some way,” Ms Narayan said.
“My husband has a lot on his shoulders as a father and son-in-law.” Despite the challenges, she is hopeful that things will return to normal soon.