27 Jan 2009

More than 600 people are still sheltering in evacuation centres in Fiji

12:19 pm on 27 January 2009

More than 600 people are still sheltering in evacuation centres in Fiji's Western division after devastating floods destroyed hundreds of homes earlier this month.

Fiji's Western Division Commissioner says Joeli Rokovada says 16 evacuation centers are still in operation in his division.

Mr Rokovada says some people have started rebuilding their homes, while others are waiting for assistance.

He says they are now targeting food security and disease control.

"The focus now is provision of food relief. A programme has already started with the airlifting of food supplies to remote areas, which are still inaccessible. We have already distributed food rations to the affected people by road. and the health authorities are closely monitoring the situation on disease control."

Joeli Rokovada says it's still unclear how much damage the floods have caused in total.