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On Feb. 20, Tropical Cyclone Winston swept through the Fiji isles with over 250km. winds, the most powerful storm ever recorded. The scale of destruction is beyond anything Fijians have ever experienced! The death toll is expected to climb over 45 as the islands assess their losses.
EHC's Asia-Pacific Regional Director. Manasa Kolivuso, himself a Fijian and a witness to the devastation, filed this update report from Fiji:
The destruction is staggering, the stories heartbreaking! According to the Fijian government, 350,000 people (or about 40% of the population) have been affected, 250,000 need clean water supplies, sanitation and hygiene assistance, the storm has disrupted school for over 60,000 students, and an estimated 24,000 houses were destroyed.
The hurricane cut a swathe across more than half of Fiji's 300 islands, making some of these isles quite inaccessible. More than 40,000 islanders who lost their homes are still sheltering at evacuation centres. Damage is estimated at F$1 billion and could rise.
"The first village I visited with food rations was Qelekuro, Tailevu, on the east," Manas are counted. "That fateful night, 10-year-old Salacieli Serevi was told to hold on to her 12-month old baby sister at a nearby evacuation centre while her mother waded in waist-deep flood waters in the dark to fetch more warm clothing. She never came back!"
Her body was found a few hours later under a piece of roofing that had blown onto her path in the dark night, killing her. A knapsack filled with clothes was still strapped on her back. Little Sala and her eight siblings are now motherless.
Many of the victims were children, unable to fight the strong currents from the storm surge and tidal waves. Many were swept to their deaths, including a 10-month-old baby in Koro, which is one of the worst-affected islands. Many of its inhabitants have left for the capital, Suva, traumatized by the utter destruction of their island home, which now looks like a war zone. There is nothing to return to, they have lost everything.
Fiji Every Home for Christ, partnering with Global Com passion Ministries, the humanitarian arm of Christian Mission Fellowship, is reaching out to help these displaced islanders, who are filled with despair and hopelessness. "Since Feb. 23, we have distributed over 3,000 cartons, or 68 tons, of basic food items to more than 3,500 families, distributed 5.3 tons of clothing, and reached 127 villages in six of the worst hit provinces. In many of these areas, we were the first responders to arrive with aid," Manasa reports.
But the need is still over whelming! Homes and schools need to be rebuilt, and for the people it's a time of rebuilding broken lives and a tattered nation.
"Every prayer uttered for Fiji, any act of kindness,big or small, or donation in cash will be highly appreciated ," says Manasa. "I am overwhelmed by the resilience of our people and the heart of generosity to help those that are in urgent need of assistance."
EHC (Asia)Ltd. is raising funds for the Fiji Hurricane Relief. If you would like to contribute to the relief efforts you can make an ATM transfer or cheque deposit directly into HSBC A/C: 502-414592-001.
Cheques should be made payable to EHC (Asia) Ltd. - please write your phone no. at the back of the cheque. For tax-deductable receipt please include name, address and contact phone number.
GOD BLESS YOU RICHLY!