An experience worth sharing
THE north was the hardest hit as STC Yasa battered areas in Bua, Macuata and Cakaudrove. The monster storm flattened houses and schools, destroyed farms and livestock, damaged roads and bridges, devastated trees and caused landslides and floods in its path.
Those affected had a story to share. Prior to Yasa entering our waters, schools were closed and precautionary measures were taken. Exams were postponed and people did their last minute shopping while others secured their properties and livestock.
Thousands of Fijians were prepared knowing too well what Yasa could bring as it was a category five, and Fijians had seen the destruction caused by STC Winston in 2016, which was also a category five.
STC Winston had left behind a trail of destruction, and a bill estimate of $2.8 billion. TC Harold, which hit Fiji in April, had also left behind devastation and a bill estimate of $100 million.
The Fiji Times (19/12) reported that Yasa had let hundreds homeless and in urgent need of clothing and food. It reported that Yasa brought gusts of wind of up to 354km/ph (177mph), and the super storm damaged several schools on Vanua Levu, caused flooding and landslides and left three people dead.
Mohammed Khan of Tabia, Labasa said that it was like hearing gunshots (FT: 19/12) as Yasa barreled through Tabia settlement. In her article titled Yasa rips apart 68 houses (FT: 19/12), Serafina Silaitoga reported that residents of Nakalou in Dreketi, Labasa watched in disbelief as STC Yasa ripped apart 68 houses in the village, Serafina shared that the villagers said it was like watching a movie when Yasa picked up houses, spun them around in midair and smashed them to the ground.
In his article titled Urgent plea for food, clothing on Yadua Island (FT: 19/12), reporter Timoci Vula reported that the villagers on far-flung Yadua Island were in dire need of food, water and clothing. Vula added that the remote island located in the Bligh Waters was battered by Yasa for about eight hours as homes and farms were destroyed. Sadly, families whose homes were destroyed weathered the storm under their floor. As of Friday (18/12), 18,828 Fijians took refuge in the 389 evacuation centres Fiji wide. Vasiti Soko (NDMO director), in a media conference, reported that Fiji could be looking at a damage bill in hundreds of millions of dollars.
The Sunday Times brought more heartbreaking stories from the cyclone-affected areas. Josaia Ralago reported (20/12) that a family of three was saved by four pieces of roofing iron over their heads when Yasa damaged their home.
In Bua, a family of five took shelter in their car which they parked under a nearby bus shelter after Yasa tore down their home. Serafina also shared (The Sunday Times: 20/12) about Roger Matterman, who relived his horrific experience shedding tears, as he grabbed hold of his nieces and ran to the nearest neighbor about 500m away from his home. 60-year-old Senimili Druadrua of Vunidamoli Village in Cakaudrove shared her ordeal as three metre high waves swept into her village. Another Fijian Aisake Miller of Cakaudrove described how he held on to the trunk of a mango tree as super storm smashed into Natibitibiti.
More stories and emotional headlines like,
Families left with only clothes on their backs, Family eats food covered in dirt, Resident loses roof for second time, Yasa outmuscles brothers efforts, Teacher grateful to survive storm, Refuge in suitcases, People in urgent need of essentials and
Severe cane damage moved thousands of Fijians. In his story titled Fear power - man shoulders falling bean for eight hours, Luke Rawalai shared how Josefa Rokogata squeezed himself and his 61-year-old uncle Sunia Qera into a cabinet to escape the wrath of Yasa. Luke shared how fear gave Josefa the strength to shoulder the beam for eight hours as Yasa tore their village to shreds.
In Votua Village in Lekutu, Bua only three out of 93 houses survived Yasa’s wrath.
As Fijians sat on the remains of their homes, those who were not affected decided to spare a thought and help their loved ones in the north. I have been following news reports and pictures from areas which felt the brunt of Yasa, and I felt that it was my duty as a human being and as a contributor to the letters to the editor column to get a team together and reach the areas affected by Yasa.
Hence, I gathered members of the Balgovind Rd (Nadawa) Satsang Ramayan Mandali and we met on Saturday evening to discuss ways how we could assist. The most obvious item that came to mind was food ration and water supply. We contacted my friends and families who could afford to make a contribution of a food pack which cost around $50 at Hansons. Initially, we started with 30 relief packs, but as assistance poured we were able to make 73 packs and 20 cartons of water - thanks to the residents of Balgovind Rd and our extended families and friends.
At this juncture, I pay special thanks and appreciation to the following residents and families of Balgovind Rd - James Swamy and Kushma Wati, Kamlesh, Rajat, Savinesh and Mohini Maharaj, Vinod Prasad and Rup Mati, Manju and Ashnil Raj, Mrs Ashwin, Ram and Rohit Lingam, Madhu Krishna, Vikash Maharaj, Sharda Maharaj, Mr Naidu (YKK), Mahesh Prasad, Sharda Nand, Latchman Reddy, Mr Mukhtar, Mr Randhir, Shivanjali and Neha Sami, Lalu, Ronil, Radhika and Vinita Prasad, Mr Shivnesh, Reshma Kumari, Mani Ram, Ajay Singh, Satendra (Crest), Simon (Property Valuation), Krishan, Saras Wati, Mr Deo and my Rotuman neighbour George Antonio. We also received assistance from Anand Sharma (Nadawa), Arun Prasad (former IRO- FTU), Deepak Chand, Mohini Chandra (Nadi), Yogesh Rattan (Tavua), Rafael Kamal, Nilesh Goundar (Northern Freight Services), Raj (Fresco Rentals), Govind Singh (COPE- GS), Praveen Chand (principal Nakasi High School), Jitesh Patel (Suva Bargain), Rajesh Patel (Supreme Fuel), Raymond Stoddart (soccer commentator), Shakhil Prasad, Rohit Prakash, Ananda Rao (LICI) and Andrew Kumar (Samabula). We roped in our overseas families Abhilesh Prasad, Abhishek Prasad, AK Electrical Ltd, Edwin Prakash, Prasheel Singh and Nushrat Bano (Wellington), Adhishwar Lingam (Dunedin), Rajesh and Ravinesh Sami (Auckland), Manoj Sharma (USA), Veena Devia (Auckland), Madhu Prasad (Vancouver) and Parmila Wati (Auckland).
Their assistance enabled James Swamy, Vinod Prasad, Nilesh Goundar, Kamlesh Maharaj and I to travel across to the north. We counted ourselves privileged to be part of the distribution team. We were emotionally affected when we saw the devastation caused by Yasa and the impact it had on our brothers and sisters.
We left Natovi on Saturday morning in high spirits, but upon our arrival in Nabouwalu we were touched by what we saw. Roofing iron was strewn beside the road side and trees were uprooted. There was widespread destruction.
We started our distribution in the area around Waibunabuna Primary School and then moved to Lekutu, Vatu Settlement, Votua Koro, Nasarawaqa, Korokadi (Bua), Naibulu and Vuniuto with the assistance of Rameshwar Lal, Divendra Prasad and Nilesh Pal . While people’s lives were shattered and they lost their valuables, homes and livestock, they managed to put on a smile, and were grateful that there were humanitarians who reached them with their basic needs.
Some were contemplating where to start from. I was touched by the warm hospitality that we received in our motherland, and I salute the families in the north who were brave enough to survive Yasa. The stories that survivors shared with us made us realise the ordeal that they went through. Khairun Nisha of Vatu Settlement shared that she lost the roof of her home, and the family had tied tarpaulin to cover the roof, but when it rained water seeped inside the house.
According to her, she received ‘naya janam’ (meaning a new life) after she survived Yasa. Nacanieli Matai of Votua Koro said he took shelter at Lekutu Secondary
School. Bitra Wati of Korokadi in Bua shared that she was inside her house at the height of the super storm, and that she had lost her roof and household items.
She received help (groceries and tarpaulin) from Red Cross, RB Patel and Mr Charan Jeath Singh. Babita Ram of Korokadi was one of the worst affected. Her story brought tears to my eyes as she shared how she took shelter underneath the floor when the roof of her house was blown away. Her son, who is a Year 13 student at Lekutu Secondary School and plays for the Bua youth football team, described Yasa as terrifying and scary. He did not sit for his agricultural science paper as he had lost his materials.
The national president of Fiji Teachers Union Muniappa Goundar, the general secretary Agni Deo Singh and the personnel officer Rameshwar Lal joined us at Vuniuto Settlement and helped in the distribution of the relief supplies. Renuka Ram of Vuniuto settlement shared that her house was blown away, and she needed assistance with building materials and stationery for her children who would be attending school in 2021. Ganeshwar Lal shared how he lost his roof, and how he took his family inside their vehicle.
We saw firsthand the destruction caused to Korokadi Primary School, Lekutu Secondary School, Dreketi Primary School, Nasarawaqa Primary School and Muanidevo Primary School, and the teachers’ quarters. We ended our distribution in Dreketi and the residents of Naibulu had a mouthful to share. The likes of Nilesh Pal, Chandra Wati, Nirup Kumar and Khushi Ram shared that it was the first time for them to witness such a cyclone. They had to take shelter
at the Fiji Rice building after Dreketi Primary School lost its roof.
We had lunch at Divendra Prasad and Rameshwar Lal’s residence, and Nilesh Pal and his family prepared dinner for us, which we had in the Inter-Link vessel at 1am on Sunday morning. The resilience and hospitality of the families in the north was evident as they shared with us whatever little they had. They said they were ready to move on with life.
Furthermore, I salute those who reached these families with tarpaulins, food packs and water supplies. This is the best thing about Fiji as we joined hands to help each other during these trying times.
We did not go to the affected areas to gain publicity or mileage, but to show our brothers and sisters in the north that we cared for their safety and welfare, and at this juncture, I accord a big vinaka vakalevu to the residents of Balgovind Rd and those who joined hands with our mandali to show their support and affection to those Fijians in the affected areas.
We also thank our brothers in the north for their love and hospitality during our stay there! The experience that I encountered on Boxing Day is worth sharing and will be remembered in years to come! I’ll remember this trip as it brought me closer to the Fijians in the northsome of who we met for the first time !