NATIONAL EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER TROPICAL CYCLONE WINSTON SITUATION REPORT 66 of 09/03/2016 The purpose of this report is to provide the update on the current operations undertaken after TC Winston. This Situation Report is issued by the National Emergency Operation Centre and covers the period from 0800hrs - 1600 hours, 09/03/2016. Updates in this report summarise all reports and briefs submitted from various EOC’s in the four divisions. 1.0 NATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS PRIME MINISTER; SUGAR INDUSTRY, ITAUKEI AFFAIRS-PM praises rehabilitation efforts on Koro Island - Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has commended the relief and rehabilitation work being undertaken by the Australian Defence Force on the island of Koro. The Prime Minister made these comments while addressing the 635 Joint Task Force of the HMAS Canberra which was berthed off the island of Koro. The Prime Minister was also briefed on the unified operations being undertaken by personnel of the Australian Defence Force and the Republic of Fiji Military Forces in order to ensure a return to normalcy for the people on the island. CFL presents $202,241.64 to PM’s National Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation Fund – CFL General Manager Ian Jackson hands over the cheque to the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama. Communications Fiji Limited, the parent company of Legend FM, FM96, Viti FM, Navtarang and Radio Sargam today presented a cheque of $202,241.64 towards the Prime Minister’s National Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation Fund. CFL’s General Manager, Ian Jackson presented the cheque to Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama, on behalf of all the listeners who came forward and donated to the Cyclone Winston Radio Appeal. ATTORNEY GENERAL, FINANCE, CIVIL SERVICE, PUBLIC ENTERPRISE, ANTI-CORRUPTION, COMMUNICATIONS-$5.4m impact on FDB programs- The Fiji Development Bank estimates that it will sustain up to $5.4 million as the cost of the impact of Tropical Cyclone Winston on its developmental programs in the rural and agricultural areas that has been affected. This estimated cost does not include the rehabilitation financing that has been rolled out together with the RBF’s National Disaster Rehabilitation facility. The Bank foresees recovery to take more than a year to restore agri-based businesses to pre- Winston stage. In addition to its rehabilitation assistance, the Bank has donated $50,000 to the Prime Minister’s National Disaster Relief fund. Bank CEO Deve Toganivalu says after the cyclone, the immediately implemented disaster relief repayment options for their clients. MINISTER I. SERUIRATU: AGRICULTURE, RURAL AND MARITIME DEVELOPMENT, NDMO-19,649 people still staying in evacuation centres- 19,649 people are still staying at 619 evacuation centres around the country after Tropical Cyclone Winston. National Disaster Management Office Director Akapusi Tuifagalele also revealed that 25 schools are still closed. 21 schools are still being used as evacuation centres while four schools are severely damaged. 109 schools reopened for classes on Monday. The total damage bill for our roads after Cyclone Winston is $135 million. 1 French Navy vessel to arrive in Suva with more relief aid- A French Navy vessel called the La Morqueuse will arrive in Suva this afternoon with more relief aid from the French Red Cross to help the people who have been severely affected by Cyclone Winston. French Embassy Spokesperson Moira Vilsoni says the relief aids on board the vessel are temporary shelters and hygiene packs. Vilsoni says that there are also French military engineers on board for rehabilitation and rebuilding purposes. The vessel will depart Suva tomorrow and will be deployed to different areas in the country in the next four days. MINISTER P. KUMAR: LOCAL GOVERNMENT, HOUSING, ENVIRONMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORT-Market vendors not charged with market vendor fees- Market vendors are currently not being charged with market vendor fees. Local Government Minister Parveen Bala said the initiative was launched after the Tropical Cyclone Winston so that it lessens the burden faced by the farmers. Bala said this initiative will continue till the end of this month. He said different Municipal Markets have different rates. MINISTER T. NATUVA: DEFENCE, IMMIGRATION AND NATIONAL SECURITY-Theft of rations won’t be tolerated: Qiliho- Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho says incidences of theft of ration, if brought to the Police’s attention, will be looked into. Qiliho says the issue of thieving of ration has been brought up and DISMAC is aware of this problem. “Some are even trading tinned stuff for cigarettes and things like that and that is unacceptable when there are people out there who need that food rations.” However, the Commissioner says to date no reports have been made to the Police of such incidence. MINISTER M. REDDY: EDUCATION, HERITAGE AND ARTS- Schools remain closed in the North- Two of the 15 schools in the Northern Division that were severely damaged by Tropical Cyclone Winston will remain closed until further notice. Navakawau District School in Taveuni and Sukanaivalu Memorial School in Yacata suffered extensive damage at the height of TC Winston. Commissioner Northern Jovesa Vocea says the two schools received more damage than any of the other schools in the Northern Division and will not yet reopened for classes. The other thirteen schools have resumed classes this week, most of them in temporary classrooms. MINISTER J. USAMATE: HEALTH AND MEDICAL SERVICES-$6M worth of damages in health facilities after TC Winston – Health facilities in the areas affected by Cyclone Winston has incurred damages of more than $6 million. Minister for Health Jone Usamate said this figure will rise as this is just a preliminary projection given to the National Disaster Management Office. He said this is just the damage cost for infrastructure. Usamate confirmed that all health facilities are operational after the Cyclone last month. Minister for Fisheries and Forests Hon. Osea Naiqamu and Minister for Labour and Industrial Relation Honourable Semi Koroilavesau visited DIVEOC West at 0900hrs- Divisional Commissioner Western briefed PA’s, DO’s and Roko’s in terms of operation processes. Request from Malake island-Ra directed to the Hon. Prime Minister’s Office requesting for the supply of cassava cuttings, kumala cuttings and seedlings for their crop rehabilitation works to be undertaken next week. Confirmation has been received from the relevant ministry that the delivery will be undertaken today to Malake island, with this confirmation emailed to the Hon. Prime Minister’s Office. Reminder issued to all DIVEOCs to ensure that their SITREPs are with NEOC at 0600 hours daily for compilation by the team for the information of the Director NDMO, National Controller and the Emergency Committee that convenes daily at 1000 hours; in some instances, with presence of the Hon. Prime Minister. 2 Request received from MOE requesting immediate assistance to transport disaster relief supplies [includes temporary learning supplies, school tool kits] to Ovalau schools and which is inclusive of Five [5] MOE officers. The 04 meeting of the NGO Coordination, consisting of all NGOs, will meet tomorrow at 1400 hours at the FCOCSS building, to discuss on the provision of seeds and seedlings to affected farmers, exporters and families. Handing over of UNDP tools and equipment to the Permanent Secretary for Rural & Maritime Development and National Disaster Management, Mr Meleti Bainimarama 12pm tomorrow, Thursday 10th March, 2016 at the Ministry of Rural & Maritime Development and NDMO Boardroom at Knollys Street, Suva. Fiji Govt has latest estimate on disaster costs – The latest estimates on the damage caused by Cyclone Winston in Fiji are US$226 million dollars. Fiji TV reports damage to Fiji's roading infrastructure has been put at US$64 million. The agriculture sector is estimated to face costs of more than US$100 million and education's losses are US$25. 18,154 homes and buildings were damaged by the cyclone. The focus by Government is the rebuilding of damaged schools for children to return to classes after more than 240 around the country suffered damage. 2.0 STATUS SUMMARY UPDATE ON DEATHS DURING TC WINSTON, EVACUATION CENTRES AND EVACUESS Number of deaths in the four divisions remains the same. The number of Evacuation Centres and number of Evacuees have decreased in the Eastern and Northern division. EVENT REMARKS TOTAL CENTRAL WEST EAST NORTH TOTAL Death During TC 9 11 21 2 43 Winston Evacuation Centres 0 199 315 30 544 Evacuees 0 7492 9,443 1,009 17,944 Table 1. Updates Based on latest SITREP’s received from the four divisions. 3.0 MARINE WEATHER BULLETIN Issued from the National Weather Forecasting Centre Nadi at 1100 hours on Wednesday the 9th of March, 2016. Situation: Forecast to midnight tomorrow for the Fiji group Brief showers about the eastern parts and interior of the larger islands. Elsewhere fine apart from isolated afternoon or evening showers. East to south east winds 15 to 20 knots Moderate east to south east winds, fresh at times. Moderate to rough seas 3 4.0 DIVISIONAL UPDATES Brief updates for each Division are given below: 4.1 EASTERN DIVISION Koro The number of evacuees in the respective Evacuation Centres in Koro has decreased as they start the people start to rebuild and move in to tents and shelters that were issued. Tabulated below is the latest update of the Evacuation Centres in Koro as of today at 1000hrs. Number EC # Evs Adults Infants School Disabled Total children 1 Nasau 20 347 28 234 4 613 2 Nacamaki 3 147 34 123 304 3 Vatulele 9 98 4 47 5 154 4 Nabuna 1 2 4 6 5 Kade 3 67 5 44 116 6 Mudu 3 66 10 21 3 100 7 Sinuvaca 4 47 4 38 2 91 8 Tavua 3 75 21 21 117 9 Naqaidamu 5 104 7 60 71 TOTAL 51 955 113 592 14 1501 Table 2.