Constant heavy rainfall starting on Jan 7th resulted in the biggest floods in Fiji’s history
with the worst affected areas in the Western Division. The flooding resulted in over
10,000 people being evacuated to temporary shelter and sadly cost 11people their lives.


Nadi Town Looking Out To Denarau


Many communities were completely cut off due to damage to bridges and roads and even
once access was once again opened up many communities were left without the most
basic necessities of life, clean drinking water and food. People returning from temporary
shelter often returned to find their houses completely destroyed and all possessions lost.





Damaged Roadway in the Ba Interior


Various aid agencies swung into action in order to bring some relief and at Pacific
Agencies it was discussed how we could best assist. It was decided that rather than
simply donating funds to one of the recognised charities we wanted to take some direct
action and help out in a more direct hands on fashion.

Andrew Morris and his team in Lautoka swung into action and thanks to his bargaining
skill and the generous assistance of some of our customers including Island Chill, Lees
Trading, Farmers Supermarket, Aqua Pacific, Fiji Sugar, Punjas and FMF he had quickly
assembled an impressive stock of goods suitable for distribution.

A production line was quickly preparing cartons containing basic items suitable for
distribution to individual households. Included in each pack was flour, crackers, candles
matches, dahl, sugar, rice, tinned fish noodles, tea, salt and tinned meat. 100 foam
mattresses were also purchased along with linen. These along with 100 cartons of bottled
water were all loaded into a container for delivery to Ba from where would be
distributing.





Food Packs, Water, Dalo, Rice.(Above) Some of the Lautoka Team (Below)








On Friday morning the 5 Pacific Agencies 4x4 vehicles were all loaded and almost ready
to head inland. Unfortunately the driver of a forklift at the timber yard we were working
from somehow managed to drive right into Brad’s vehicle taking him out of action for the
day. Some quick redistribution of the load saw the remaining 4 vehicles head way to
pick up our guides for the day.

We had opted to work with an NGO, Friend (www.fijifriend.com.fj) as on our own we
would have had no idea of what areas had already been visited nor who really needed the
assistance, we were grateful for their expertise as well as their navigation skills.





Loading Up Supplies in Ba.






Ooooops...No Brakes And We Haven’t Even Left Yet!!!!






We Can Get Another Ten On Here!!!



Our first day was spent inland from Ba and it didn’t take long to see first hand the
devastation that had been caused by the flooding the previous weekend. Our first stop
was where a house was being rebuilt for woman who lived there with 6 others. Her
house had simply been swept right off of its foundations and carried away by the river.
Further on down the same road we came across an elderly couple whose house had
suffered tremendous damage.This quickly made us aware of the human cost of the
flood, the lady living there was bedridden and yet she was lying outside on a bed frame as
there no mattresses salvageable In fact their house was all but empty as the flood
waters flowing through their house had destroyed everything.










We visited various other villages including Nadrou, Kum Kum, Naruku, Nacaci, and
isolated houses and each stop was more of the same and it made clear not only the
physical damage but the human cost as well. Many of the people we would visit had very
little to start with and the floods had managed to take even these meagre possessions
from them. While the recipients were very grateful for what we giving them it did at
times seem so inadequate when put in perspective of their overall needs.






Our last stop of the day was at a large village called Tonge. Debris entangled in power
lines quickly made it evident that the flooding had been severe through this area. Tonge
was particularly hard hit due to its location. A tributary joined the main river just
upstream from Tonge, when the river levels rose Tonge was receiving flood waters from
all directions and the level of flooding was very high. We were directed to the
community hall/ church on top of a hill above the main part of the village. It was only
when the high water mark was pointed out three quarters of the way up the side of this
building that we received an appreciation of just how badly affected this area had been.





Note the watermark near the top of the window.





















The following day we had a quick look around the perimeter of the Ba Sugar Mill, seeing
the silt and debris strewn around there made it possible to visualise just how high the
flood waters had risen. The good news was thanks to some great bush mechanic work
and a packet of cable ties Brad was able to join us on Saturday so the convoy was back to
5 vehicles.












On this second day we concentrated on areas closer to the coast but still around Ba.
While the locations had changed the extent of the damage hadn’t. We called upon the
assistance of the police based at Ravi Ravi to help direct us to areas that hadn’t received
any assistance so far. Among the villages we visited on Saturday were Karavi,
Korokagga and Navatu,


















Despite the losses that many people had suffered the laughter and smiles that Fiji is
famous for were never far away. It was a fantastic opportunity to take part in this relief
delivery and while what we achieved may have just been a drop in the ocean in the
overall scheme of things we did directly help many people.






It was a humbling experience as many of the people we encountered had so little to start
with and the flood took away what little they did have. There has been criticism from
various quarters in the Fijian media about the effectiveness of the aid and relief
programme. Having been involved in a very small way we now see just how difficult it
is due to the transport and access difficulties along with very remote locations that needed
to be reached.






While we may have alleviated some immediate problems for some households and
communities the effects of this disaster will be felt a long way into the future. Along
with peoples houses the damage to roads and bridges will take years to repair fully. Many
areas have lost all of their crops and the land will take a lot of work before it can be
productive again. Until reliable water supplies are re established there is an ongoing risk
of disease.

Pacific Agencies would like to thank Tasman Orient Line, Swire Shipping and Pacific
Forum Line who all donated cash, we are also very grateful to Island Chill, Lees
Trading, Farmers Supermarket, Aqua Pacific, Fiji Sugar, Punjas and FMF who either
donated products or offered them at discounted prices we are very grateful for the
assistance we received from Friend as this type of work is far removed from their normal
programmes of poverty eradication and enterprise encouragement. Thanks also to the
staff of Pacific Agencies who gave up their time either after work or over the weekend to
assist and a special thanks to Andrew Morris who did such a fantastic job in getting
everything organised.

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