Debris from Cyclone Winston is still a major problem on the hard hit Fiji island of Koro.
A representative of the United Nations in Suva Osnat Lubrani last week made her second visit to the island since the category five cyclone hit, smashing even concrete homes.
She said some of the debris has been cleared by defence teams on the island and there was more access, but she said more equipment and labour will probably be needed to clean up the mess.
Debris from a school on Koro Photo: AFP
Ms Lubrani said debris experts have been providing technical help on the island.
"They've been providing people also with training on how to deal with the debris in a safe way. You know you've got mixed corrugated iron and concrete with debris from the woods, all of the vegetation and the crops that were destroyed so it needs different sort of management."
Health concerns remain
Ms Lubrani said the debris is contributing to health concerns on Koro.
She said people on Koro are still traumatised by the hit their island took.
Ms Lubrani said some of the twisted metal and smashed concrete has been cleared but there is still much remaining.
23 year-old housewife Eseta Kaitani, with her daughters Faith, 4, Ulamila, 3, and Sova, 1, at the Tuatua Nasau Primary School in Koro. Photo: NZDF
She said the sight of the place is contributing to Koro villagers' health concerns.
"It's just so depressing. You wake up and you just see this totally bombed area with everything strewn. The psycho-social impact of ... just trauma ... is also something you just sense when you come there."
Ms Lubrani said people on Koro are still worried about sanitation and medics are reporting cases of skin disease and diarrhoea.
She said some Koro residents have sent their children off island for schooling but most of the community is still living there.
She said shelter is still a big concern.
