On February 20, 2016 Fiji was devastated by Cyclone Winston the 2nd most powerful cyclone in history (a cyclone is what they call a hurricane in the Southern Hemisphere). With sustained winds of 230 KM/hr and gusts of almost 350 KM/hr almost the entire country was effected. Where the centre of the storm passed entire villages were destroyed and 42 people died. Numerous others were injured by pieces of roofing tin as it flew through the air and trees crashed down onto homes. In addition to this all of the fruit bearing trees and most of the crops that are vital for rural families were destroyed.
When we first received warnings from the government on Thursday the cyclone was forecast to track right over the capital city of Suva and then follow the Southwest edge of Vanua Levu, the main island of Fiji. This would have been catastrophic since this is a very highly populated part of the country where 2/3 of the people live and is the economic and farming core of the country. Many people began to pray and when we woke up on Saturday morning the cyclone shifted about 200 KM to the north and passed between the two main islands in Fiji. Many communities were still destroyed and lives lost but 1,000's of others would have been lost if the cyclone did not shift position.
Immediately after the cyclone the Fijian army and emergency services began to bring help to the villages that were hit directly by cyclone Winston. Electricity was knocked out in most of the country and communication was very difficult especially with strict curfews and no newspapers to read. After several days power began to come on in parts of the capital city and we realized the extent of the damage.
It has now been more than 2 weeks since the cyclone and there is only electricity in the capital city and a few other towns. People have been eating the fruit from the trees that were blown down but the markets which are normally full of fruit and vegetables from the countryside are almost empty.
When we first received warnings from the government on Thursday the cyclone was forecast to track right over the capital city of Suva and then follow the Southwest edge of Vanua Levu, the main island of Fiji. This would have been catastrophic since this is a very highly populated part of the country where 2/3 of the people live and is the economic and farming core of the country. Many people began to pray and when we woke up on Saturday morning the cyclone shifted about 200 KM to the north and passed between the two main islands in Fiji. Many communities were still destroyed and lives lost but 1,000's of others would have been lost if the cyclone did not shift position.
Immediately after the cyclone the Fijian army and emergency services began to bring help to the villages that were hit directly by cyclone Winston. Electricity was knocked out in most of the country and communication was very difficult especially with strict curfews and no newspapers to read. After several days power began to come on in parts of the capital city and we realized the extent of the damage.
It has now been more than 2 weeks since the cyclone and there is only electricity in the capital city and a few other towns. People have been eating the fruit from the trees that were blown down but the markets which are normally full of fruit and vegetables from the countryside are almost empty.
Rebuilding
New Zealand and Australia have sent their military to help and the rebuilding of Fiji has begun. Everywhere you look in the capital city there are aid trucks and people driving out to the effected areas to help. YWAM Fiji has created a Cyclone response team lead by Seria Vinakadina (YWAM Labasa), Losalini Tuwere (YWAM Fiji National office), Byungok Choi (YWAM Youth Centre Suva) and Ledua Seruvatu (YWAM Vunayasi). We have had many YWAM operating locations from around the world contact us with offers to help and we are coordinating with them to make sure that help goes to the people that need it most.
Marine Reach Fiji, based in Lautoka, is in the middle of a healthcare DTS with several doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals in the school. They will be coordinating the medical work and hosting teams in the next year. YWAM Marine Reach has an excellent relationship with the Ministry of Health in Fiji and will be a huge blessing to the people that desperately need medical and spiritual help.
We need teams. This cyclone has devastated a large part of the country and it will take years to recover. Families, especially children have suffered huge psychological trauma and people everywhere need to know that God loves them. Right now there is a need for rebuilding, planting food and counselling people. The Fijian government, Red Cross and other countries are sending huge amounts of food into the effected areas but this will only be for a few more weeks. We need to help people fix their farms and plant new crops so that they will have food in the coming months and years.
If you would like to help financially or by sending a team please contact us at [email protected]
Marine Reach Fiji, based in Lautoka, is in the middle of a healthcare DTS with several doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals in the school. They will be coordinating the medical work and hosting teams in the next year. YWAM Marine Reach has an excellent relationship with the Ministry of Health in Fiji and will be a huge blessing to the people that desperately need medical and spiritual help.
We need teams. This cyclone has devastated a large part of the country and it will take years to recover. Families, especially children have suffered huge psychological trauma and people everywhere need to know that God loves them. Right now there is a need for rebuilding, planting food and counselling people. The Fijian government, Red Cross and other countries are sending huge amounts of food into the effected areas but this will only be for a few more weeks. We need to help people fix their farms and plant new crops so that they will have food in the coming months and years.
If you would like to help financially or by sending a team please contact us at [email protected]
Below are a few pictures of the cyclone and the damage caused.
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