Page 11 - Islands Business January 2021

We Say We Say

Photo: Australian Government Photo: Samson Lee
other supplies to the more than 90,000 people that bore the cyclone like Yasa or Winston to build back stronger.
wrath of TC Yasa, in the west, northern, central and southern Days before TC Yasa made landfall in Bua Province, weather
regions of Vanua Levu, as well as on the smaller, outlying is- apps like Windy had projected a similar route.
lands of Lau province, towards Fiji’s southeastern sea borders, The Fiji Meteorological Services on the other hand was
and the Yasawa group of islands to the northwest. maintaining a more westward path, for the approaching cy-
Faced with the overwhelming response of local individuals clone to come through the waters that divide Viti Levu, Fiji’s
and communities taking it upon themselves to launch fund- main island in which the capital Suva sits, from that of Vanua
raising, including food and clothing and other relief collec- Levu to the east.
tion drives to assist those left homeless by the cyclone, Fiji’s This path FMS maintained until four to five hours before
NDMO threatened to prosecute anyone that abuses the system Yasa made landfall on 17 December, and even then, it was
and declared that any community-based relief work must seek unable to predict that the super storm would veer more east-
government consent. ward as it tore through Vanua Levu.
When political parties as well as the influential Fiji Law So- To its credit, Fiji’s Met Service had put all islands and near-
ciety explained that such a community response is not unlaw- by regions around Bua Province under hurricane warning, so
ful as made out by the authorities it softened that position. no one could claim that they were not given advance notice.
Donors are now asked to register their relief work with Fiji’s Fiji saw the same thing with TC Winston in 2016; FMS was
NDMO to help coordinate assistance. predicting a path further south than Windy showed, and the
Foreign assistance has also come in from countries like latter proved to be more accurate.
China, the United States, United Kingdom and India, with Seeing the ruin TC Yasa left in its wake, one couldn’t help
local corporations including banks and manufacturing compa- but be thankful that Suva and its thousands of feeble and
nies offering help in cash or kind. makeshift houses in the many squatter settlements dotted
As was true with TC Winston, Australia is taking the lead around the city were spared.
among foreign donors, with an A$4.5 million (FJ$7.06m) grant The loss would have been unbearable and unforgiveable, to
to the island nation, which included the cost of providing “hu- a large extent.
manitarian relief supplies such as building materials, tents, The challenge for Bainimarama or for any government for
medical supplies, solar lighting and hygiene kits, education that matter is to bite the bullet (and the cost) now by build-
supplies to enable children to return to school” and “support ing stronger, instead of waiting for the next super or perfect
for international and local NGOs and the Fiji Red Cross to aid storm that is sure to leave untold suffering and devastation in
their work with affected communities.” its path.
An additional A$22.5m (FJ$35.3m) goes to direct budget Such a loss will be of catastrophic proportions that will be
support with the bulk of it aimed at social welfare payments. unbearable, no intolerable, to accept.
There are two key lessons TC Yasa taught me personally. To Fiji I would say, let’s accept the lessons TC Winston and
Number one is the lifesaving need to invest on cyclone TC Yasa are teaching us, and let’s build stronger now!
forecasting in terms of equipment and personnel. The second
is the need to build stronger now, rather than wait for a super publisher@islandsbusiness.com

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