_____________________________________________________________________________ «¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»¥«¤» ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ _____________________________________________________________________________ \\\\\___| | | __| /\ ___\"-._ /////~~~| | | _| / \~~~/.-' |_| |_| /_/ _\ indo-fiji.tux.nu ifa.tux.nu _____________________________________________________________________________ INDO-FIJIAN ACTION COMMITTEE _____________________________________________________________________________ Floods in Labasa Fiji - February 2007 _____________________________________________________________________________ ----Original Message Follows---- From: "Ganesh Chand" To: Subject: Labasa Floods Date: Thu, 8 Feb 2007 10:32:49 +1200 Dear Colleagues: Some of you may have heard that there has been a massive flood in Labasa area earlier this week. While this time cost in terms of human lives is not as high as that during Cyclone Ami, the flood destruction is equally destructive, especially in rural areas closer to the sources of the major rivers. To this day - as I write (8 Feb, 9.30am), there has been no state relief - like food or clothing - distributed to areas like Korotari, Vunimoli, etc, which have been heavily affected by the floods. After Cyclone Ami, a group of volunteers had established the 'Disaster and Charity Fund'. This group, headed by civil servant Pradeep C. Lal, is active in relief distribution; immediatley after the floods, so far the group assisted 27 families with relief. They, however, urgently require assistance; their priority is books and stationery, though immediately and for the next 7 days or so, food and clothing would also be desirable. Given the massive publicity of abuse of relief materials and cash during Cyclone Ami by some unions/groups, I strongly recommend you to channel any asistance you can provide through this group, which is directly working with the victims. (To the best of my knowledge, the only other body of unblemished record unvolved in relief work there now is the Save the Children's Fund - through which you can channel you assistance as well) Any assistance you can provide would be most appreciated. You can courier your assistance in kind (again, preference is for books/stationery (and non-perishable food items and clothing if these can be delivered within 7 days) to them preferably by CDP Couriers or EMS (In attention of: Pradeep C Lal, Disaster and Charity Fund), Labasa, Republic of Fiji If you wish to donate cash that could be used to purchase items you want them to for distribution, you may deposit your donations to the: Disaster and Charity Fund account, Acc No: 528586 Bank of Baroda, Labasa Branch, Fiji. For transparency, if you deposit any funds, please let me know so that, as someone endorsing this group, i keep my records updated for future cross reference with their accounts (also, pls send a cc to Pradeep Lal: EMAIL: pradeepclal@connect.com.fj for his records too. Regards. Ganesh Chand _____________________________________________________________________________ UPDATE FEB 16, 2007 _____________________________________________________________________________ Aussies, Kiwis extend help Friday, February 16, 2007 THE region's big brothers have stepped in to help ordinary Fijians affected by the floods in the Northern and Western divisions. New Zealand has given $35,000 and Australia $58,000 to the Fiji Red Cross to help rehabilitation for people affected. In a statement, NZ Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said NZ had taken a strong stance against the interim regime but that did not stop it from helping ordinary Fijians in a time of need. "Several hundred people have been evacuated because of the floods, many of them are from squatter settlements, are vulnerable and need immediate assistance," Mr Peters said. The Australian High Commission yesterday said the money was to replenish the Fiji Red Cross stock of relief supplies. "The funds will be used to assist Fiji Red Cross supply tarpaulins, cooking sets, blankets, water containers and humanitarian packs containing essential items and clothing to people affected by the recent floods." The high commission said Australia and the Fiji Red Cross had a long tradition of partnership. "They have worked together to assist Fiji families in times of natural disaster, including through Cyclone Ami in 2003 and the floods of 2004." Relief assistance to families affected by the flood in the Northern Division has been supplied by the Red Cross. Labasa Red Cross coordinator Victor Kissun said the delivery of the assistance was only put on hold because there was shortage of supply. "That was why we had not delivered relief assistance to certain villages ... because there was not enough supply. "In one case, we had to visit 50 families in one village but because we only had 30 packs to hand out, we postponed the trip because it will not be fair for the other 20 families." FROM: http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=57150 ____________________________________________________________________________ Reprinted under the Fair Use http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html Doctrine of International Copyright Law ____________________________________________________________________________