Fiji, South Pacific Field battered by cyclone (Updated)

Fiji, South Pacific Field

Saturday, March 20, 2010

This week Asia-Pacific Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Coordinator David Harris requested prayer for Fiji and the Church of the Nazarene's South Pacific Field, which was battered by a category-4 cyclone.

Harris reported more than 10,000 residents sought refuge from Cyclone Tomas in 178 evacuation centers across the island nation if Fiji. At least three deaths have been confirmed so far.

Strong winds ravaged the islands, with the storm hitting the northern island of Vanua Levu and making its way to the Lau group of approximately 30 inhabited islands.

On Friday, the global news media was reporting many areas of Fiji were still without power and clean water. A health alert has been issued due to the threat of disease. Hundreds of others are reportedly without food and shelter.

Ului, another cyclone to hit the South Pacific/Melanesia, brushed the Solomon Islands. This category-5 storm produced flooding and damage, though the impact was not as severe as expected. Nazarene missionaries George and Nancy Miller began preparations around the Honiara base on Sunday for the anticipated extreme weather conditions.

There are 17 Nazarene churches across the Solomon Islands group.

Harris reported Field Strategy Coordinator Harmon Scmelzenbach has been maintaining regular contact with and support of the church's various mission personnel across the South Pacific Field.

On Saturday, March 20, Harris reported the following:

It is estimated that approximately 14 percent of Fiji's population of 944,720 were affected by cyclone/hurricane Tomas wreaking havoc primarily on property over almost five days of 130-175 mph winds. The nation-wide curfew was lifted on Wednesday, but the declared state of emergency will be in force for the standard 30 days after this critical incident.

Tifare Inia, superintendent of the Fiji District, was relieved to report that there have been no casualties or fatalities among Nazarene families. We have one church in the hardest hit area of the northern group of islands, on the island of Taveuni. However, due to communications negatively impacted by the storm, Inia has not been able to establish contact with the church in Taveuni. One village alone on this particular island has been completely decimated, with every home in the village destroyed. Inia is praying that the damage will be limited to houses and crops alone. He confirmed reports of the Lau group bearing the brunt of the extreme weather conditions, with homes and crops damaged, but thankfully no loss of life. Presently there is no ministry undertaken by the Church of the Nazarene in this area. Inia concluded that in many areas it was inevitable that there would be significant damage due to the coastal location of villages on many of the small islands. However, wherever possible, it is hoped that islanders have fled to safety inland.



A resort spokesperson on the northern island of Koro reports seven of the 14 villages have been badly damaged.

"Some of the houses have blown away. A lot of trees have been uprooted, some of the roads have been blocked off because the waves have picked up rocks and coral and have dumped it on the road," the spokesperson said.

The Disaster Management Office (DMO) Relief coordinator was also quoted as saying "There are people living in caves at the moment," referring to the consequences of the damage in the northern islands. The DMO also confirmed the death toll of three, after a Rabi islander man was killed when a tree fell on his house.

In support of local relief efforts, New Zealand and Australian defense forces have begun airlifts of emergency supplies, as well as undertaking surveillance of affected areas. An appeal launched for the work of the Fiji Red Cross Society already stands at $68,543.03. UNICEF has dispatched emergency health kits, and collapsible containers with instructions on how to purify water, to the main affected areas. Thousands of packets of tomato and eggplant seeds, and kumala (sweet potato) cuttings have been sent to the Lau group by the Agriculture Ministry its campaign to boost farm recovery. Ministry personnel have also been deployed to work with farmers on sustainable planting practice.

Schmelzenbach has again requested prayer for the Fijian people, in the aftermath of this damaging weather event. In contact with the outer islands in Fiji early on Thursday morning, Schmelzenbach advises that "at this point there are no reports of Nazarene fatalities and our church buildings survived, but the devastation is massive."

We also offer praise and thanksgiving for the safety and well-being of people across Fiji, as well as for the Nazarene family. Continue to pray for the relief and recovery work being undertaken by Fijians, for Fijians, and for others involved in these vital efforts. We are thankful for the prayerful support of the global Nazarene family.

Join the Relief Effort

Please prayerfully consider how you can join local Nazarenes around the world in ministering in this difficult time. Partner with them in prayer and support for our hurting neighbors.

Persons and churches wishing to make a donation can mark their checks "Asia-Pacific Disaster Relief ACM1200" and mail them to the Global Treasury Services, PO Box 843116 Kansas City, MO 64184. In Canada, checks should be made payable and sent to the Church of the Nazarene Canada, 20 Regan Road, Unit 9, Brampton, Ontario L7A 1C3. For online donations, go to ncm.org.
--Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Asia-Pacific
 

 

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