The Red Cross in Fiji is handing out cleaning kits to communities hit hard by this week's flooding in an effort to prevent the spread of disease.
Waivou Village in Rewa Province, Fiji was flooded for a week during floods in December 2016. A Fiji Red Cross team is seen here helping to assess the village's needs. Photo: Fiji Red Cross
Director-General Filipe Nainoca said the hope is access will be restored to communities in the central highlands of Rakiraki within the next few days.
Mr Nainoca said the Red Cross priority is to get fresh water to Rakiraki once access is restored, both for drinking and cleaning.
In the meantime, non-food assistance will be distributed to other communities across the country that they can get to.
"There's mud everywhere. You know, the floodwaters bring in mud and then after it starts drying out it becomes a health hazard so we are looking to provide cleaning kits which consist of wheel barrows, spades, shovels, brushes, to help these communities clean out their homes and also clean out their communities' general surroundings," said Filipe Nainoca.
Mr Nainoca said the Red Cross has been able to reach ten communities so far.
