ASSISTANCE efforts have been dedicated to the maritime areas adversely impacted by the recent dry weather, says Divisional Commissioner West Apolosi Lewaqai.
Responding to questions regarding the deployment of relief packages to flood-prone areas in light of the current cyclone season, he said dry weather had affected mostly the maritime islands of Vatulele, Mamanuca, and Yasawa.
“So, as of last week, we started our water carting to Vatulele,”he said.
“We plan to engage our government shipping services to cart water also to Yasawa and Mamanuca.”
Mr Lewaqai said his team hoped to assist communities facing water scarcity issues, particularly schools which are having external examinations.
Communities within the division also capitalised on the heavy rainfall by filling their water tanks and buckets.
Mr Lewaqai said resources were utilised in the pre-cyclone season for awareness purposes.
“We do community-based training, engaging with our stakeholders for awareness of the communities, identifying vulnerable communities, especially those communities that are usually flooded during heavy rain.
“We engage the Minister for Health and the police on how communities need to prepare themselves by maintaining community cleanliness, especially in informal settlements and villages.”
Mr Lewaqai said this multi-stakeholder approach included the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs, which continues to advise community members to do village checks.
“The villages must be clean, not only to address flooding but also other public health issues as well.
“From yesterday and the day before, we started to see drainage overflow. This continues to be a challenge when rubbish starts to clog these drains, mostly within municipal areas.”
