All-out effort
I REFER to recent FT articles about NDMO reporting that some 23,000 people evacuated to shelters before STC Yasa struck Fiji.
It was anticipated that some 600,000 people or two-thirds of our population were to be impacted by this monstrous cyclone.
The proportion of people who sought shelter is a fraction of all Fijians who live in homes that are not strong enough to withstand cyclones generally, and especially of the magnitude of STC Yasa. This is astounding!
Viti Levu was fortunate to be spared a direct hit yet again. This has meant that the extent of devastation and casualties is much smaller than may have been expected.
Photos of utter devastation, flattened homes, flooded Rakiraki, scattered and twisted corrugated roofing iron, and destroyed farms are circulating in social media posts. Media stories of people seeking refuge under tables, floors, fallen walls or desperately running to better built buildings in the midst of 200km plus wind and rain while breathtaking, reflect a serious underestimation of the destructive power of these natural hazards. This is despite repeated warnings from NDMO.
There is a need for all-out effort by Government, civil society, educational and religious institutions to inculcate citizen awareness of natural hazards and especially cyclones and what actions to take to ensure safety and security.
For the nearly 50 per cent of our people who live in informal settlements, villages and rural settlements, getting to shelters in a timely fashion will reduce distress and save lives. And building better and stronger houses, schools and shelters will be pivotal if we are to avoid catastrophic loss of lives the next time a Category 4 or 5 cyclone hits Fiji.
VIJAY NAIDU
Nailuva Rd, Suva