DISAPPOINTMENT and despair continue for people in Ra, one of the worst affected regions in the aftermath of Severe TC Winston.
Almost eight months after the monster storm tore through the area, some villagers have yet to receive forms for the Help for Homes initiative.
They claim they were promised immediate assistance to rebuild their homes by various state representatives.
Villagers in Nailuva district, along with those in Nakorotubu and Navitilevu, continue to live in tents and makeshift structures, afraid of what the new cyclone season may bring, and uncertain of if, and when, they will be able to rebuild their homes.
Meri Kabuta of Veidrala Village, Nakorotubu, Ra, said they were told in March during initial assessments conducted by the Ministry of Social Welfare, that “someone” would visit them with detailed information on aid programs but nothing had happened since.
Veidrala Village in the Nakorotubu district had more than 60 homes completely decimated by the cyclone.
“There is a great need here. We need to build better homes. A lot of the houses here use tarpaulin’s for their roofs,” Ms Kabuta said.
“We are scared because in the next two months, the cyclone season begins and we don’t know where to go if a cyclone comes. The house that we stayed in during Winston is not safe anymore. If another one comes, where are we going to go?
“In April when cyclone Zena came, we went to take cover in the caves close to the sea. If there is a tsunami, the water will definitely reach inside the cave.”
Nailuva district representative Vilikesa Naicaba said a large part of the district had not received the forms.
“We understand that some along the coastal areas have received assistance and we ask that assistance be rendered to us as well because there are some who live in tents and those that are in makeshift homes, the foundations are not strong enough to withstand another storm,” Mr Naicaba said.
Orisi Nabuka of Saioko Village in Nakorotubu shared similar sentiments.
“There are exactly three families that have filled the necessary forms. I am one of them.
“All the other families have yet to receive any forms. They travelled to Rakiraki but were told to return and that someone would come out with the forms to our village. No one has visited us as yet,” Mr Nabuka said.”
Questions sent to Minister for Social Welfare Mereseini Vuniwaqa and her permanent secretary more than a week ago remained unanswered. Attempts to reach them by telephone up until yesterday also proved unsuccessful.
But in his presentation at the UN World Food Programme Joint TC Winston Emergency Response Lessons Learned workshop, at the Novotel in Lami on September 14, Director Women Rupeni Fatiaki noted the ministry’s challenge in locating recipients for the Help for Homes initiative.
He said most of the vouchers for those living in the affected maritime areas, had to be returned to the ministry because recipients had moved to another area to find shelter.
In early April, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama launched the initiative and made available $70 million towards rebuilding damaged homes.
