Caption: Nabukelevu-I-Ra villager Ms. Salanieta Caudre (front left) with other women of Nabukelevu-I-Ra Village in the district of Nabukelevu in Kadavu at their newly retrofitted evacuation center.
KADAVU – More than 500 villagers of Nabukelevu-I-Ra in the district of Nabukelevu in Kadavu now have an improved and safer place to seek refuge in during any future disasters.
This follows the commissioning of the Nabukelevu-I-Ra Evacuation Center Retrofitting project by the Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Hon. Sakiasi Ditoka.
Funded under the Ministry’s Self-Help Programme at a cost of more than $10,000, this new development by the Coalition Government is intended to serve as a provisional space that provides basic shelter for people affected by disasters. The newly improved facility also can accommodate evacuees with special needs.
Nabukelevu-I-Ra villager Ms. Salanieta Caudre was among the many villagers who acknowledged the Government for coming to their aid.
“Before we have to walk down to the school to shelter in, especially during a cyclone. We would worry about our safety there because the school is situated near the sea,” said the 83-year-old.
“But we are very happy and grateful to the Government for helping us with the retrofitting of our evacuation center. Now we no longer have to run down to the school, we all just have to come to the village hall, and we can confidently say we feel much safer in here.”
Mr. Filimoni Waqarua thanked the Government for the assistance, saying the villagers were grateful to this aid from the Government.
In commissioning the project, Hon. Ditoka said with the increase in the intensity and strength of disasters such as cyclones, having evacuation centers to be retrofitted was not only timely but crucial in ensuring the safety of each individual.
“We have been experiencing category 5 cyclones and that is why we need to enhance evacuation centers that serves as provisional space that provide basic shelter for people affected by disasters,” he said.
Caption: Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Hon. Sakiasi Ditoka and other Government officials with villagers of of Nabukelevu-I-Ra Village in the district of Nabukelevu in Kadavu following the commissioning of their newly retrofitted evacuation center.
