Cyclone debris a massive headache on Fiji's Koro

Transcript

Tonnes of debris lying around Fiji's Koro island remains a massive headache as the clean up continues after Cyclone Winston.

Koro was directly hit by last month's category five cyclone which left 44 people dead in the country and thousands of people homeless.

The UN's Resident Co-ordinator Osnat Lubrani last week paid her second visit to Koro since the cyclone and she told Sally Round there remains a huge task ahead.

OSNAT LUBRANI:  Compared to the first time when it was really, it looked like the place had been bombed, frankly.  Very few buildings left intact.  Many completely destroyed, debris strewn everywhere and people basically in a state of shock.  By the second time, with the support of the Australian forces, there were some engineer teams that had helped to clear some of the debris so at least there was a bit more access.  Also to bring some emergency relief supplies so there was some water and food but still a sense of trauma was still felt when we spoke to some of the women.  It was very emotional.  Also, a lot of worries about issues of sanitation.  Concerns were raised by the doctor I spoke to about cases of skin diseases and diarrhoea and all the toilets have been destroyed.  The two major priorities I would say that I heard from the people was, first of all, still the problem of the debris in areas where they want to rebuild.  Even though there was some support to clear some of it, there is still some work needed.  

SALLY ROUND:  Yes, because I guess they would need large equipment to do that.  Is there that large equipment on the island?  Have the military forces brought that in?

OL:  They did bring some.  It is not clear how long that will stay.  We will know within the next day or two but if not then there will need to be more equipment brought in.  We did have a team of debris experts, just come back from Koro, and they have been providing people with some training on how to deal with the debris in a safe way.  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.

SR:  It's a huge job isn't it?  There must be tonnes and tonnes of debris and some it quite dangerous and rusty and a breeding ground for germs.

OL:  There are certainly related health concerns.  The issue of the debris, I have to say when I was talking to some of the families, because it is just so depressing.  You wake up and you see this totally bombed area with everything strewn.  On that I want to say again that the psycho-social impact or just trauma is also something that you sense when you come there.  I heard from one of the local people that live there, that sometimes it is the men that are sort of like dumbstruck and the women are getting back and starting to cook etcetera but then there is also the emotional impact on the women and it is going to take time.  We are, through the various cluster systems, I think the issue of psycho-social support in Koro is also coming up as a big priority.

SR:  Is there any rebuilding going on at the moment?  Can they actually get to start to rebuild given all this debris is in the way?

OL:  I was amazed.  I already saw people looking at the torn timber and starting to pick it up but just the basic things like the saws and the equipment and it's a huge task and they do need support for that rebuilding to take place.  Some of it is coming in but I think much more is needed.