1.1 Humanitarian Background

Fiji Humanitarian Background Calamities and Seasonal Affects Capacity and Contacts for In-Country Emergency Response

Fiji Humanitarian Background

Disasters, Conflicts and Migration

Nat Y Comments / Details ura e l s Dis / ast No ers

Dr Y The areas affected by drought in Fiji are mainly the smaller islands and the Western and Northern sides of the main islands. Droughts which ou es occur in Fiji are linked to the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and associated reductions in rainfall. ght

Ear Y Fiji is exposed to earthquakes. Those areas having the greatest earthquake activity are the - Udu area, the south western parts of thq es Kadavu and the northern Yasawas. The medium activity extends from the southern part of Taveuni and , through Koro islands, ua Gau islands, Ovalau, eastern and southern Viti Levu, as far north as north-western Kadavu. The rest of Fiji is a region of relatively low kes earthquake activity.

Epi Y Like many developing countries, Fiji is still undergoing an epidemiological transition and is faced with a double burden of communicable and de es non-communicable diseases. Whilst there has been a decline in the incidence of some of the communicable diseases over the past 20 years mi such as tuberculosis and filariasis, the rise in incidence of Leptospirosis and typhoid fever in recent years is a cause for concern. cs

Ext No - re me Te mp era tur es

Flo Y Flooding is also a significant hazard in Fiji, usually associated with cyclone or tropical depression rainfall. Fiji is subject to both coastal and odi es river flooding. ng Rapid-Onset occur within several hours of heavy rainfall, can last several days and are specific to medium-sized river catchments Flash Floods occur within a few hours of torrential rains with little or no warning and dissipate rapidly. This is the most common form of flooding in Fiji and occurs frequently

Ins Y As for all Pacific Islands countries, pests and disease pose a huge danger to Fiji’s environment. Fiji successfully controlled a number of ect es notorious coconut pests and some weeds by implementing bio-control programmes. The Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF) was established Inf under the Biosecurity Promulgation in December 2008. BAF manages quarantine controls at borders to minimise the risk of exotic pests and est diseases entering the country. It also provides import and export inspection and certification to help retain Fiji’s favorable animal, plant and ati human health status and wide access to overseas export markets. on

Mu Y Landslides in Fiji are commonly associated with periods of heavy rainfall, especially rainfall. The most concerned areas are dsl es the coastal south-east Viti Levu. Following Cyclone Wally in 1980, the most extensive landslides were recorded, when the road from Navua to ides Yarawa was blocked by 45 huge landslides. Landslides are also associated with earthquake activity (for example on Kadavu in 1998).

Vol Y Taveuni is the third-largest island in the Fiji Group, and is home to around 15 000 people. The Island is the surface expression of a large ca es volcano, 40 km long and up to 12 km wide. Recent geological indicated that it has erupted at least 36 times since people inhabited the island. nic Eru Given the continual nature of eruptive activity on Taveuni since 9500 BC, the probability of activity within the next 100 years is high. pti ons

Page 1 Hig Y Fiji has, during its history, been affected by tsunami. The likelihood of tsunami differs between locations in Fiji. Based upon the magnitudes of h es known tsunami, there is moderate tsunami potential in the Wa ves Central-Southeast islands of the Fiji Group (where tsunamis have been recorded with wave run-up heights of 2-4m). Coastlines in the / Northwest of the group are identified as having a low tsunami potential as tsunami have either not been reported or those reported in the area Sur have run-up heights of less than 2m. ges

Wil Y Significant fire events in countryside are related to the dry season. During the dry season vegetation in the western region becomes dfir es susceptible to fire. The National Fire Authority is stationed in the major cities and some big towns. Other communities lack fire service es facilities.

Hig Y Fiji’s location in the South Pacific Ocean exposes the country to tropical cyclones, which are the most frequent hazard process to occur in Fiji h es and result in the most damage. On average, Fiji experiences 10 to 15 tropical cyclones per decade, of which 2 to 4 result in severe. Tropical Wi cyclones in Fiji affect an average of 28,837 people per event. The most recent tropical cyclone Cat V (Winston, 2016) affected 540,000 nd people and killed 44. Cyclone (Ami, 2003) affected 30,000 people and killed 17. s /TC

Ot See more information attached here her Co m me nts

Man- Made Issues

Civil Y Strife es

Interna No - tional Conflict

Interna Y Both disasters and climate change are causing internal displacement in many countries in the region. Although many of these people are lly es likely to be displaced within national borders, some will have no choice but to migrate internationally. Their lives and livelihoods are linked Displa to the Pacific Ocean; rising sea levels and other effects of global warming threaten not only their physical assets and coastal zones, but ced also their way of life and perhaps their national identities Persons

Refuge Y 4 People were granted Asylum in 2016 with 20 others seeking asylum as at September 2016. (Persons recognized as refugees under the es es 1951 UN Convention/1967 Protocol, the 1969 OAU Convention, in accordance with the UNHCR Statute in Fiji Present

Landm No - ines / UXO Present

Other - Comm ents

Calamities and Seasonal Affects

Seasonal Affects on Transport

Transpo Comments Fro rt m

Primary Paved and sealed road are generally OK to go through the wet season. Nevertheless, rains on the main roads could make driving a Nove Road hazard. During the wet season, floods, flash floods and landslides, particularly on stretches of the highways may happen, resulting in mber Transpo roads, crossroads or bridges closures. to rt April

Page 2 Seconda The secondary roads network is often not in a perfect condition and may be quickly affected by rainfalls, making it impracticable Nove ry Road overnight. During the wet season, floods, flash floods and landslides may happen, resulting in roads, crossroads or bridges closures. mber Transpo to rt April

Rail No rail network exists in Fiji. n/a Transpo rt

Air Generally reliable all over the year. Heavy rain falls / cyclones may impact the air transport operations, resulting in delays, flights Nove Transpo cancellations and temporary airports/airstrips closures. The secondary airstrips on outer islands may be impracticable during the wet mber rt seasons and even if the airports/airstrips are open, the access roads may be impracticable. to April

Waterwa Waterways transport – for both sea and rivers - may be affected during the wet / cyclonic seasons, sometimes during days. Nove y mber Transpo to rt April

Seasonal Affects on Storage and Handling (economic, social, climate…)

A Comments From cti vity

St During the wet / cyclonic seasons, days of torrential rain may roads, cut power and water supplies, closing accesses to transport and Nove or storage infrastructures, impacting handling / packaging operations and making access of manpower problematic. Nevertheless, it is very mber age difficult to forecast and anticipate those constraints. to April

H As above Nove an mber dli to ng April

Ot As above Nove her mber to April

Capacity and Contacts for In-Country Emergency Response

During the latest large disaster response in Fiji during the TC Winston operation, the Fiji Government displayed all its logistical capabilities to successfully undertake a military led response. Using both their assets (vessels, and aircrafts) as well as their personnel, they implemented a 'Forward Cell', whose aim was to coordinate those assets as well as the ones provided by the neighbor militaries from Australia, New Zealand and France.

However this forward cell, while very effective, also blurred the lines as to the effective role of the NDMO in Fiji, primary focal point of the International Humanitarian Community. This resulted in some coordination complications during the response phase.

While the Government of Fiji undertook lessons learnt activities, leading to the current revision of their previous Disaster Act that should include the cluster system (between other things), it remains unclear as to the definition of roles between the NDMO and the militaries should a similar event happens tomorrow.

Government

4.1 Fiji Government Contact List

Humanitarian Community

4.2 Fiji Humanitarian Contact List

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