More than 500 households in Vunivivi Village in Nausori are set to benefit from a newly refurbished evacuation centre.
The project, with a total cost exceeding $38,000, involved the retrofitting of existing evacuation centre to meet safety standards that was safe, convenient, and secure for evacuees who sought shelter during disasters.
Minister for Rural, Maritime Development and Disaster Management Sakiasi Ditoka acknowledged the help of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), for co-funding the project and supporting communities who have been affected by climate change.
While launching the project recently, Mr Ditoka said the new structure would be able to withstand a Category 4 cyclone.
He also thanked members of the Vunivivi community for securing $10,000 contribution towards the refurbishment project and providing manpower to assist the ministry in successfully completing the project within the given timeframe.
Since its establishment in 1997, the hall has served as a temporary living space for disaster affected individuals and a makeshift hospital for emergency cases such as Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston in 2016. The hall guaranteed a peace of mind for the entire community in terms of safety.
The project was funded and implemented by Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development under its Self-Help project, and UNDP through its Governance for Resistance project, through a joint Risk Informed Development initiative.
