Cyclone Winston, Fiji: UNICEF eyewitness report
2016-02-20
© UNICEF/UN010615/Clements - Scenes of Tropical Cyclone Winston's destruction in Tamavua, Suva, Fiji.
NEW YORK/ HONG KONG, 20 Feuary, 2016 – Alice Clements from UNICEF Pacific is in Suva, Fiji and experienced Cyclone Winston.
"We certainly felt the impact of Tropical Cyclone Winston in Suva with destructive, howling winds and the sound of rivets lifting from roofs a constant throughout the night. We can't say for sure yet how the rest of the country fared but rapid assessments will be undertaken by the Fiji Government to determine the full impact and what response will be required. It is likely that smaller villages across Fiji will have suffered the most, given their infrastructures would be too weak to withstand the power of a category 5 cyclone. Families may have lost their homes and crops therefore leaving them without shelter, food and a livelihood. There is also considerable risk for those that live by the sea or rivers as flash flooding and river flooding could occur due to heavy rains."
UNICEF is a member of the Pacific Humanitarian Team and will be on standby to provide emergency supplies and additional personnel, if required. UNICEF has pre-positioned supplies in Suva and Nadi including water kits, health kits and education materials such as school tents. If called on to assist, UNICEF will actively support the Fiji Government in leading clusters of agencies working in water and sanitation, education and nutrition, and in child protection.