People in need of proper sanitation

ABOUT 40 per cent of the assessed 5000 households affected by Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa are in urgent need of water and sanitary facilities, states Fiji’s Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa Situation Report by the United Nations office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

“According to the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) assessment of 4818 affected households which involves 22,559 people, 38 per cent (of households) are in urgent need of water while 40 per cent need toilets,” the report read.

“The Bua area is mostly affected whereby 48 per cent of households are in need of water while 55 per cent are in need of sanitary facilities.”

The report further highlighted the need for urgent rehabilitation of destroyed household sanitation.

“Ongoing challenges compiling response and assessment data remains a critical constraint.

“Initial damage assessments do not give sufficiently detailed reports to plan rehabilitation works.

“Water, sanitation and hygiene in health facilities is a priority, with some health centres and nursing stations lacking access to power, safe / adequate water and appropriate sanitation facilities.

“Monitoring and assessment of the acute malnutrition situation among children and women and treatment of any identified cases of severe acute malnutrition are needed and any deficiencies of micro-nutrients and need of deworming should also be assessed,” the report further highlighted.