Wellington, 15 January 2009. – UNICEF has supplied almost $37,000-worth of medical, water and sanitation supplies to help people made homeless in Fiji’s flooding.

The Fiji authorities declared a state of emergency on Monday in its western region, which have been affected most by flooding. At least eight people have died and thousands left homeless.

UNICEF Fiji has provided relief supplies to the Fiji Ministry of Health to help children and families sheltering in evacuation centres in western areas. The supplies include 1,000 collapsible water containers, 4,800 water purification tablets, 2,000 one-litre packets of oral rehydration salts, and a range of medicines.

Rough seas have delayed delivery of five 1,500 litre water storage containers, but these are expected to be sent within the next day or two.

Fiji’s interim government has requested further relief supplies to meet immediate relief efforts. These include 16,000 oral rehydration salts packages, 6,000 family water containers and 16,000 water purifying tablets. UNICEF Pacific has stock on hand to provide almost all of these supplies and is currently releasing its pre-positioned stock as well as ordering additional supplies.

UNICEF staff are carrying out assessments on the situation of children in 18 evacuation centres in Fiji’s Western (Sigatoka and Nadi) and Central (Nausori) Divisions. Assessment results will provide a basis for a potential response with
further relief supplies.

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