45,000 people in evacuation centres across Fiji

Transcript

The Fiji government says there are more than 45,000 people, or about five percent of the population, in evacuation centres following Cyclone Winston.

A spokesperson, Ewan Perrin, says the number has jumped from 20,000 yesterday as communication has been restored to affected areas.

Mr Perrin says in the western division, there are about 22,000 people being housed in evacuation centres, and in the central division, about 16,000.

He says in the eastern division, there are about 3000 evacuees, and about 4000 in the northern division.

EWAN PERRIN: We now have a little over 45,000 people in evacuation centres.

MARY BAINES: And that is right across the country?

EP: That's right across the country. The concentration is in the central areas and the west. Obviously that's where the greatest populations are as well. The western division has about 22,000, and central has about 16,000. The other two regions - just under 3000 in the east and just over 4000 in the north.

MB: That number just jumped (from 20,000) in the last day. Is that because communication is starting to be restored?

EP: Yes, yes. Now that we have restored communication to most of those areas we are getting better information on the ground about who is there.

MB: Ok. So what can you tell me about those areas you have received communication from?

EP: The story is similar to what we have been reporting earlier with this situation. In the east and the north there is quite widespread destruction across many parts of the main island as well. A lot of homes are damaged or completely destroyed, and that's why we obviously have a lot of families staying in our evacuation centres. The government is mobilising all its resources to get relief and supply out to people across all of Fiji.

MB: And these evacuation centres, they're churches, schools?

EP: Yes. Many of them are schools and that is what we are working on at the moment. Now that the storm has passed we are hoping to get people out of the schools so we can restore some normality to children, getting them back into school as soon as we can. But we will move those people to other evacuation facilities such as community halls and churches.

MB: How long will they be open for?

EP: Basically they will be open for as long as we need. We need to keep them open so people have shelter. We have already started some of the restoration work. As you will know, the island of Koro was particularly heavily hit. The military personnel have already created some structures on the island in the day or two they have been they are so beginning to rehouse people in those new structures .

MB: In the evacuation centres, would you say there is enough aid, food and water for the people there?

EP: As far as we know at the moment there is. If supplies drop, obviously we have a lot of food, water and other relief supplies so we can move them to those places as well. We are doing everything as well as we can. The government is committed to making sure that everyone in Fiji gets the aid and support they need. If people can be patient - we haven't forgotten you, we will definitely get to all of you.