Director NDMO Ms. Vasiti Soko and Government personnel who are deployed onboard the HMNZ Manawanui to conduct IDAs in affected villages in Yasawa, Vatulele, and the Mamanuca Group before they departed Suva on November 17, 2023.
SUVA – Two containers of food ration supplies are currently enroute to Yasawa, Vatulele, and the Mamanuca Group for villages affected by Tropical Cyclone Mal.
The containers are being transported on the New Zealand navy vessel, HMNZ Manawanui which departed the Kings Wharf in Suva today for the five-day humanitarian mission.
National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) Director Ms. Vasiti Soko has acknowledged the New Zealand Government for assisting the Fiji Government in its response to the recent disaster.
“On behalf of the Fiji Government, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the Government of New Zealand for coming to assist us in our hour of need. The provision of HMNZ Manawanui to be able to assist the Fiji Government in transporting these relief supplies across to our affected population is a testament to our deep friendship and Duavata spirit that we as people of the Blue Pacific share,” Ms Soko said.
A six-member Government team is also part of the deployment.
“These personnel will travel to conduct Initial Damage Assessments (IDAs). According to the reports we have received, the team will verify information, and key personnel from critical sectors such as health, infrastructure, and agriculture will assess the sector-specific damage recorded on the ground. This exercise is critical as it will determine the extent of damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Mal to these communities, providing valuable information for our response.”
More than 700 food ration packs will be distributed in these affected islands in the West.
Food ration supplies have also been taken across today for the affected population on Ovalau in the Eastern Division, while another 40 packs will be delivered across to the Northern Division this evening for evacuees from Nabavatu Village in Dreketi who are still being billeted at a designated evacuation centre near the village.
About 100 food ration packs are presently being distributed to affected families in the Central Division.
