UN relief chief concerned by impact of Tropical Cyclone Winston on Fiji

Stephen O'Brien, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, on Monday voiced his concern about "the devastating impact" on Fiji of Tropical Cyclone Winston, which has so far claimed at least 21 lives and affected hundreds of thousands of more people.

"This cyclone is reportedly the strongest ever to hit the South Pacific," O'Brien said in a statement issued by his office here. "Whole villages have been destroyed, homes and crops have been damaged, power lines have been cut and more than 8,100 people are currently sheltering in over 70 evacuation centres."

The government of Fiji is leading the response, distributing food and other relief supplies, and providing emergency shelter. A state of natural disaster has been declared, and the government has asked for international assistance.

"I offer my deepest condolences to all who have been caught up in this disaster," the statement said. "The United Nations and our humanitarian partners across the Pacific stand ready to support the people and the authorities with any expertise and support they may need."

"We must do all we can to help people rebuild their lives and livelihoods," said O'Brien, who is also the UN emergency relief coordinator, in the statement.

The United Nations has begun its assessment of the needs for international assistance to the islands of Fiji, hit by a powerful tropical cyclone that left at least 21 people dead and more than 8,000 people sheltering in evacuation centers over the weekend.

Responding to the official request from the government of Fiji for international aid, the UN and its Pacific Humanitarian Team are reaching out to the authorities to determine what expertise and support they need, including coordination of humanitarian assistance, said Osnat Lubrani, UN resident coordinator in Fiji.

On Feb. 20-21, Category 5 Tropical Cyclone Winston cut a path of destruction across Fiji's islands, blowing off roofs, bringing down trees and powerlines, and flooding rivers.

More than 8,100 people are currently sheltering in evacuation centers, and four people are still missing. Schools are closed for a week to allow for clean-up and their use as evacuation centers. Whole villages have been destroyed on the island of Koro where a relief and assessment ship is being deployed, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which O'Brien heads.

The government is leading the response and a 30-day state of natural disaster has been declared.

The Pacific Humanitarian Team, based in the Fijian capital, Suva, coordinates expert human resources and relief supplies regionally and globally, should the impacts of a disaster exceed a government's capacity to respond.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said Sunday that it is on stand-by to provide emergency supplies and additional personnel to support the government as it works to determine critical needs.

A key target of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction adopted in March last year as a global blueprint for reducing disaster risk and disaster losses is to ensure that fewer people lose their lives or get injured in these types of events which are becoming more intense as a result of climate change, he said.

According to the Office, there were 90 major storms recorded last year with a reported death toll of 996, significantly down on the ten year average of 17,778.

Also extending heartfelt condolences, the president of the UN General Assembly, Mogens Lykketoft, praised the people and Government of Fiji for their fortitude and resilience and assured them of the support of the international community, as they begin the process of recovering from the most devastating storm. Endit