25 May 2010

EU to give Fiji help to fix schools damaged by Cyclone Tomas

6:41 pm on 25 May 2010

Fiji primary and secondary schools damaged by Cyclone Tomas are set to benefit from a 500,000 US dollar donation from the European Union.

The funding has been made available through the EU's Fiji Education Sector Programme, and brings the organisation's contribution to education relief efforts to just over one million US dollars.

The money will help repair or replace classrooms in Vanua Levu, Taveuni, Lau and Lomaiviti - the areas worst hit by the Category Four cyclone in March.

The funding also covers school equipment.

Cyclone Tomas destroyed 500 homes and devastated crops across the group of islands.

Relief efforts are continuing with the Australian government contributing another 900,000 US dollars recently to help repair schools and health centres, and New Zealand pledging 428,000 US dollars to rebuild and repair homes through Habitat for Humanity Fiji.