25 Feb 2016

As Rakiraki cleans up, village leaders, mothers call for help

6:46 pm on 25 February 2016

Village leaders and families in the province of Ra in the northern part Fiji's main island, Viti Levu, are walking to Rakiraki town to ask for help in the clean up after Cyclone Winston.

What's left of Evelene Nabure's house on the King's Rd in Fiji's western division.

What's left of Evelene Nabure's house on the King's Rd in Fiji's western division. Photo: Alex Perrottet

As more stories of survival emerge, frustration is creeping in as mothers who have taken their children to the evacuation centres say they are waiting for food.

While local authorities are coordinating recovery efforts and recording data, there's still no word on when aid will arrive.

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The roof of the Ra maternity hospital lies down in front of the building.

The roof of the Ra maternity hospital lies down in front of the building. Photo: Alex Perrottet

Prisoners from Lautoka, now employed for an indefinite time to re-beautify the country, had been cutting a huge tree that had fallen down in the centre of Vaileka - the shopping hub of Rakiraki.

Their supervisor, Lepani Tuikenawa said they all have good behaviour reports.

"They've already gone through programmes for rehabilitation. That's why they came here, they have proven themselves that they can have access to the public."

What's left of the Rakiraki market following Cyclone Winston

What's left of the Rakiraki market Photo: Alex Perrottet

At the market, wood and glass are intermingled with fruit and vegetables.

While two bulldozers scraped up the market's remains, Vatiseva Naba approached to say her house was gone and there was nothing left. She had arrived in town to ask for help.

"We need tarpaulins, and we need a real house. Because last night, and the other nights after the cyclone has left us the rain comes right from heaven, right into our house. We are sleeping on the bed, two left over beds without any mattress, and we still get the rain."

She was going to seek assistance from the Assistant Provincial Administrator, and said she'd go to his house to ask for help, if need be.

List of buildings all near Rakiraki. CD means completely damaged, PD means partially damaged.

List of buildings all near Rakiraki. CD means completely damaged, PD means partially damaged. Photo: Alex Perrottet

The Provincial Administrator didn't want to talk. He referred reporters to the CEO of Rakiraki Town Council Rakesh Chandra who said evacuation centres were overcrowded, with 5000 to 6000 people to accommodate, and water was rationed.

Mr Chandra said his priority was to clean up the town so people could come in and get supplies safely. And he said it was the government that should be providing tarpaulins and shelter.

Usaia Rawaidranu is the Turaga ni Koro, or village headman of Namuiamada village, and three other villages.

He had come to Rakiraki to say 90 percent of the houses were gone.

"Plenty of my population, now they can't sleep. I've got only six houses in my village. Those six houses - my population is 554 - we all fit in those six houses. So [if] somebody is gonna sleep, somebody is gonna have to wake up. Just standing right there, we can't move around. That is the conditions we have now."

Mr Rawaidranu said he could not wait for the government and agencies to arrive. He needed help now.

"Let the government oversee it - and it may be tomorrow, next month or whatever. So I talk to my people, don't wait for the government, just we do our own thing. If the government comes, then OK. If no? Then OK, we do our own."

On the road, Evelene Nabure appeared to be standing on a platform, but it was the floor of what was her house.

The remains of Evelene Nabure's house in Rakiraki.

The remains of Evelene Nabure's house in Rakiraki. Photo: Alex Perrottet

"I was in this house, my whole family. Myself, my husband and my son, when the roof iron started to get off. And then the walls. So I went to the other side of the road, my cousin's husband was staying there so we went there, and stayed there."

Evelene said her husband and other men had built and built for five years, and it was all gone in seconds. She said now they needed food, water and shelter. They are staying at an evacuation centre.

Penang Sangam High School evacuation centre in Rakiraki is also damaged, but housing eight families.

Penang Sangam High School evacuation centre in Rakiraki is also damaged, but housing eight families. Photo: Alex Perrottet

At the Penang Sangam High School, which had become an evacuation centre for eight families, it was washing day.

Miliakere Dakuitoga said they are thankful to be alive, and everyone is trying to help each other.

"Just trying to help each other with food and water. Since the relief from the government is not that quick. So we are just helping each other with whatever we have. We are surviving with whatever the needs we have here."

Not everyone was as lucky however. Eight people died in Rakiraki and Hemant Chand, the local funeral director, buried six of them immediately. He said with the power down there was no other option.

"In the hospital, it's not well maintained. It's not very big. Only you can accommodate about six people there. When there are more than six people that die, the families have to take them and bury them instantly."

Rakiraki funeral director, Hemant Chand.

Rakiraki funeral director, Hemant Chand. Photo: Alex Perrottet

Hemant Chand said he was extra sensitive with the families and gave significant discounts.

Twenty minutes along the road around the north coast is the Ra Maternity Hospital. An information board at the town council had it listed as 'completely damaged'.

It is run by the Catholic Church, with the government providing a staff nurse and paying for medicine.

Ana Ravoka with her baby, the first baby delivered in Ra Maternity Hospital since Cyclone Winston

Ana Ravoka with her baby, the first baby delivered in Ra Maternity Hospital since Cyclone Winston Photo: Alex Perrottet

Nurse Miriama Baroka said everyone was evacuated when the winds became too strong and they sheltered in the staff quarters.

But that building looks to be almost crushed, there is a nuns' quarters with the roof missing and Miriama Baroka said their delivery theatre at the back is badly damaged.

She said they were mostly dealing with out patients, tending to cuts, but last night they helped a mother deliver her baby.

The mother is Ana Ravoka, 22, and hers is the first baby born here since the cyclone. At first they called her Baby Winston, but being a girl, mum is thinking Philomena might be more appropriate.

There's months of work to be done in Ra, and in all of Fiji, but a smiling first time mother and a brand new baby is the healthiest sign of hope, for a country that needs it badly.

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