A bulletin from OCHA ( UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) puts the cost of the Fiji floods even higher at more than $FJD71 million ($US40 million) in key economic sectors, providing the following breakdown

• Roads 17,951,438
• Water 11,910,000
• Works 1,180,000
• FEA 4,000,000
• Telecom 152,000
• Agriculture 17,416,693
• Education 3,188,650
• Health 606,544
• Sugar 10,530,000
• Housing 4,359,660

TOTAL 71,294,986

The latest OCHA bulletin says even with the situation in affected parts of the Western and Central Division returning to normalcy for the majority of people, there remain several concerns.

• A rise in communicable diseases is to be expected particularly given the extent of flooding, including areas covered with silt and mud, and continued disruption in urban and rural water supply. There is a high risk of disease outbreak. It says communities with no or limited access to safe water supply are considered to be at risk.
• Given extensive agriculture damages, food security in the next 3 months is under pressure for many, as almost 13,000 farmers have sustained damages. This raises particular concern for the most vulnerable people, including children, pregnant and lactating mothers, the elderly, disabled, the poor and those that remain in evacuation centres or with host families.
• There is an additional concern that the flood events, evacuations and subsequent hardship have caused stress on affected families and individuals.

Source

• Fiji Live
• OCHA Office for the Pacific region
• Image: UNICEF

These families are sheltering in over 200 evacuation centres and many lack regular access to water, food and essential items. Water and electricity shortages across the Western Division are creating a potentially dangerous situation for thousands more.

The director of the Fiji Disaster Management Office says between 30 and 40,000 people are receiving rations following Fiji floods that killed at least six and caused widespread devastation.

Pajiliai Dobui says the number of people in evacuation centres in the Western Division stands at just over 1,800 and there are 28 evacuees from a village in the Central Division's Rewa province.

UNICEF is especially concerned over access to clean water for both drinking and bathing. Leptospirosis, diarrhea and typhoid are a real threat in the flood-affected areas. Water is being delivered by trucks to evacuation centers and communities - however, due to damaged roads not all areas can be reached regularly. For those who do have access to water, proper filtering and storage of water is essential.

Source

• Radio New Zealand International
• Pacific Scoop.co.nz
• Image: The Voice of Russia

"It felt really heart wrenching to see families, and especially young children in the evacuation centers with nothing but the clothes on their back. Some lost everything while others saved what they could. It was really sad to see these families waiting and wondering where their next food supply would come from," says Joseph Hing - UNICEF Pacific, Senior Communications Assistant.

UNICEF Pacific representative, Dr Isiye Ndombi, said: "Providing mothers of infants with a safe space and the support to breastfeed is the simplest and best way we can protect our youngest children particularly when hygiene and water is a challenge."

In a statement, UNICEF

• Advised that food supplied to families in need should contain a balance of protein from fish and dhal, as well as starchy basics such as noodles, rice and biscuits.
• Encouraged mothers of infants to continue to exclusively breastfeed their newborn children.
• Said, over the long term, families who have lost crops and incomes should be supported to ensure that children's health and well-being is not compromised.

UNICEF said it was especially concerned over access to clean water for drinking and bathing.

Source

• The Fiji Times
• UNICEF - First-hand description of the plight of children
• Image: UNICEF

Graham Davis reports these repeated disasters are being "regarded as no coincidence".

Davis says that developments upstream and downstream are contributing to the severity of the flooding problem.

"In truth, the town has always sat on a flood plain," he says, "yet flood waters have only reached the commercial centre once in a decade at most. But three times in three years and with such ferocity?"

Source

• Grubsheet
• Image: The Telegraph

Ashok Kumar, a resident in the area said even before the floods hit the area, there was no water in the taps.

"There has been no water in the day or night and as a result the residents of this area have to go to wells and sometimes even hire lorries to go and fetch water from creeks," said Mr Kumar.

He said water trucks carted water to the area but only stopped on the main road and did not come to provide supply to areas off the main road.

Source

• The Fiji Times
• Image: The Fiji Times

Prime Minister Commodore Bainimarama said the unity shown by students in the face of devastation caused by the recent Fiji floods reflected the fundamental message behind his government's policies.

"Through the adversity of the floods, these children are united, different schools and children from different ethnic communities are being relocated to the same schools speaks volume of our Peoples Charter policies and the direction the government is taking the country, a united Fiji for all citizens.

"I believe this is first time children from multi-cultural backgrounds are united as one. This is a first for Fiji and possibly anywhere in the world," Commodore Bainimarama said.

Source

• The Fiji Times - Schools still closed
• The Fiji Times - Students relocated
• Image:Matavuvale.com