GOVERNMENT will set up temporary classrooms and a medical clinic to cater for villagers of Qamea Island who lost both institutions after a landslide.
Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management permanent secretary Meleti Bainimarama said a team had been deployed to the island.
“We want to ensure that the provision of basic services such as healthcare and schools are not disrupted,” he said.
“Thus, we will establish a temporary medical clinic and temporary classrooms as we roll out long-term recovery support.
“Last week, we sent machines and equipment that would be essential in clearing debris caused by the landslide.”
Mr Bainimarama said the team on the island that arrived there yesterday included reps from all government ministries.
“The team being deployed now is comprehensive and will work together with officials on the ground in the North to assist the people of Qamea with early recovery,” he said.
He said the priorities of the team also included setting up of temporary medical and education facilities.
Naivivi Village headman on Qamea Island, Iosefo Tiko said for the past two weeks after the landslide hit their village, they had not received any assistance from the Government and they had not heard of any government team visit to the island this week.
“We have heard that the governmnet teams have reached another part of Qamea Island but we haven’t heard of a team to come over to our village and we need a quick response from the Government especially to clear up the debris from our school building and put up temporary classrooms so children can get back to school on time,” he said.
Naivivi villagers also raised concerns on the shortage of food since their main food source was damaged during the landslide last year.
