Highlights
Category 5 Cyclone Winston, the strongest cyclone to ever hit Fiji and with some of the highest wind speeds at landfall ever recorded globally, severely affected around 40% of the population.
US$ 38.6 million Flash Appeal has been launched, including US$ 7.1 million for UNICEF projects.
An estimated 29,000+ people are living in 722 evacuation centres, including in 71 schools (Evacuation centres in Central Division closed).
UNICEF supplies have provided safe drinking water for over 26,000 people and are assisting 6,000 students to return to school.
A ship with school and WASH supplies from UNICEF Vanuatu has arrived in Suva Harbour; supplies from UNICEF Solomon Islands being packed for shipping to Fiji; Emergency Charter Flight with health and school supplies arriving on 7 March.
120,000 Estimated # of children likely to have been moderately to severely affected (40% of child population)
347,000 Estimated # of people likely to have been moderately to severely affected (40% of total population)
These estimates by the Pacific Community (PC) are based on the zone between 0 and 50 kms from the center of Cyclone Winston, the range defined by the Fiji Meteorological Service as experiencing ‘very destructive hurricane force winds’.
UNICEF Appeal US$ 5 million
UNICEF’s response with partners
US$ 369,849 of UNICEF supplies pre-positioned in Fiji have been provided to the Government of Fiji and are being distributed to the most affected people. This includes US$ 82,527 of Australian Government supplies donated in kind through UNICEF (excluding logistics costs) and US$ 56,945 of New Zealand Government funded UNICEF supplies (excluding logistics costs). More funds are urgently needed for additional supplies.
26,125 people in the most affected areas provided with WASH supplies to ensure safe drinking water and sanitation. Supplies were provided and distributed by UNICEF, Government of Fiji, Australia, France, New Zealand, and the LDS church.
6,000 students at 59 schools in Koro, Vanuabalavu, Ovalau, and the Lautoka and Ba areas have been provided with education supplies, including temporary learning spaces and learning materials.
30,000 doses of Tetanus Toxoid (TT) vaccine have been provided to prevent the outbreak of disease.
11 emergency responders have been mobilised by UNICEF Pacific to support the response, including information management officers working in government ministries to support cluster coordination.