Safety of people in evacuation centres (ECs) and accessibility for the disabled were a few of the concerns raised by members of the Fiji Council of Social Services in the Western Division at a workshop designed to better align community workers with disaster and humanitarian response.

The discussion, organised by FCOSS, the National Disaster Management Office and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, focused on the preparedness of civil society organisations and representatives in responding to natural disasters.

While speaking at the talanoa session, femLINKpacific’s Losana Derenalagi said there was a need for an evacuation centre risk management plan that could address these issues.

“Some of the concerns come from our women who are either nursing mothers or the elderly,” she said.

“They are worried about their safety and the safety of their children.

“When they go to evacuation centres, what sort of assurances are there that will ensure their safety.

“A lot of people are sharing these spaces and they will be there for a number of days with their young.

“They worry about being raped or being assaulted. How can we protect them from that?”

Also raising the issue of access for the disabled in evacuation centres, Ba Disabled Organisation president Mosese Saukuru said there had been instances when the disabled refused to leave their homes.

“Some of them don’t want to move at all because there are no disability-friendly areas in the evacuation centres,” he said.

“We need to have more disability-friendly ECs for our disabled.”