| Project Name |
Fiji Cyclone Emergency Response Project |
| Project Number |
50122-001 |
| Country / Economy |
Fiji
|
| Project Status |
Closed |
| Project Type / Modality of Assistance |
Grant
|
| Source of Funding / Amount |
| Grant 0466-FIJ: Fiji Cyclone Emergency Response Project |
| Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund |
US$ 2.00
million
|
|
| Strategic Agendas |
Environmentally sustainable growth Inclusive economic growth
|
| Drivers of Change |
Gender Equity and Mainstreaming Partnerships Private sector development
|
| Sector / Subsector |
Public sector management /
Public expenditure and fiscal management |
| Gender |
Gender equity |
| Description |
Tropical Cyclone Winston struck Fiji on 20 -21 February 2016 causing widespread destruction across the entire country. With winds averaging 220 kph and gusting to 300 kph, it was one of the most powerful cyclones ever recorded in Fiji's history. Storm surges and flooding from Tropical Cyclone Winston caused severe damage to hospitals, schools, and homes. Power, water, and communication outages have occurred leading to a 30 day State of Natural Disaster being declared, and an international appeal for assistance by the Fiji Government. The latest situation report number 25 issued by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) on 25 February 2016 states that there are 42 confirmed fatalities and more than 20,000 people are sheltering in evacuation centers across Fiji. |
| Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy |
The Fiji National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) has undertaken initial ground assessments for the cyclone affected areas and the damage has been described as considerable. Thousands of homes, critical infrastructure and livelihoods have been affected in central, northern, and western parts of Fiji where the cyclone's trajectory made landfall over Taveuni, Savusavu, Tailevu, Rakiraki, Tavua, Ba, and Lautoka. This is after the cyclone had devastated the eastern remote maritime island groups of Lau and Lomaiviti, completely destroying many villages. Many schools in the eastern and central divisions have been completely destroyed, and many others have incurred major damage to the extent that Fiji's Ministry of Education has announced that all schools would be closed for a week. The UN OCHA has deployed its disaster clusters to support government across all sectors, including logistics, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene, health and nutrition, food security, education, protection and early recovery and livelihoods. UN OCHA confirms that additional financing is necessary to augment the government's assistance response to the rehabilitation and provision of humanitarian aid in relation to the provision of food, transitional shelter and safe water supplies. |
| Impact |
|