Adversity and resilience

THE monster, the super storm Yasa, left behind a trail of destruction and massive devastation as it made landfall in Bua on Thursday, December 17.

Fijians saw first-hand STC Yasa’s destructive impact on the environment, public infrastructure, physical structures, food and water sources, livestock and farms.

Trees had been uprooted and hundreds of homes lost their roof.

People in Dreketi and Bua had not experienced anything like STC Yasa.

While there has been a lot of destruction, there was an equally abounding spirit of love and resilience.

After STC Winston, it was predicted that the super storm was going to be destructive, so people had prepared well, but some couldn’t do much as they lost their properties and belongings.

Seeing pictures and reading stories broke the hardest of hearts, but I’m glad that good Samaritans reached the friendly North with food and water supplies, clothes, tarpaulins and other essential items.

I thank all these good Samaritans for their kind gesture towards our brothers and sisters in the North.

I also acknowledge the good work done by the police and army personnel in maintaining security during the super storm, and in helping with rehabilitation work.

I will fail in my duty if I do not acknowledge the hard work and commitment of the Red Cross volunteers and Vasiti Soko - the director of the National Disaster Management Office.

She held the helm well.

Finally, hearty thanks to our hardworking and committed journalists who had to dig deep to bring us stories and pictures from the North.

You all are heroes!

Thank you for the commitment last year, and looking forward to a better 2021! RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM

Nadawa, Nasinu