ADRA responds to the Fiji Floods: A place of refuge – Nabau, Fiji

Posted by Julie-Maree Southen. ADRA NZ Emergency Response Team on 3 May 2012 | 0 Comments

An aroma of coconut and taro wafted from the dining room.  The men had just finished eating and I was invited to join the women for a meal, the second of three groups being catered for.  Laisayani Drodroa and her four children had opened up their four-bedroom home to 24 others from neighbouring Semo Village.  Her guests had arrived Friday morning, 30th March, after fleeing from their homes and the rising river that voraciously enveloped their village from two sides.

Laisayani tells of waking at 6am, standing on her balcony and looking over the rising river to Semo Village.  It wasn't uncommon for the river to rise, crossing the old broken bridge that use to link the two villages, when there had been heavy rain for long periods.  Laisayani was not alarmed and went about her morning duties.  However, only one hour later, she looked and the river level had reached the houses that lined the riverbank.  Fear began to grip her as she thought of her elderly parents in the village.  She felt so helpless standing there, being so close and just watching, unable to go there or assist anyone as water blocked all access.  The most she could do was phone her brother, a policeman in the village, to alert him of the danger.

A number of the villagers were still sleeping, resting from the village function the previous night.  Completely oblivious of the peril they were in many slept on, only to awake with water around their beds.  Some tried to quickly grab what belongings they could, taking them to the highest point of ground and stacking things in the church.  Others had no time to save any possessions and simply escaped with their lives.

During previous floods the village community hall had always been a place of safety, their evacuation centre, so some gathered there out of the rain while others went to higher ground.  The next two hours seemed to drag for many as they huddled together, awaiting rescue.  Water was now freely flowing through most of the village with a swift current.  The ten or so people who had sought refuge in the community hall now clambered up on the roof to flee the abundance of water inside the hall.  From Nabau village, Semo village appeared as a small and insignificant island within a mass of water.  Laisayani could hear panicky voices calling for a boat to rescue them.  

Finally, at around 9am, a boat came.  Instant screaming and laughter could be heard from across the river above the sound of raging water and torrential rain.  Laisayani’s parents were first to board the boat with some of the young children who immediately felt a sense of safety, laughing and waving at those left behind as they crossed the river to Nabau village, their place of refuge.
It wasn’t safe for those on the roof of the community hall to be rescued directly into the small boat.  Climbing down they entered into the dark muddy water, swimming with all their strength to reach the church and await their ride to safety.  It must have taken 40 or more river crossings for the one small boat to rescue the 300 residents of Semo village along with Adi Moteaduba’s dog and five puppies.  Only 12 men remained in the village, staying in one of the three houses which water refrained to enter.
When the water eventually receded 46 houses stood, in part or whole, damaged with mud up to knee deep inside many of them.  Destruction was so great the government condemned the village.  Unable to return to their homes, possibly for another two months or more, those from Semo Village continue to stay in Nabau.  

With village vegetable crops also destroyed in the flood along with many farms in the area, Laisayani is expecting a real food shortage in the next two weeks.  Already she has noticed a reduction in availability of produce with vegetables starting to rot from the bad weather. She, among many, are so grateful for the assistance that ADRA has provided since the flooding happened. Between 1st -15th April, ADRA distributed a total of 824 family ration packs, 600 emergency WASH kits and 37 water survival bags to those in flood affected areas.  Laisayani says it’ll be several months before the village can replant their crops and is anticipating lots of rice and roti on the menu for her guests in the future.  It’s a great strain on a village to more than double its size overnight but not a single person complains, instead each remains grateful for their health and safety. As I finish my meal I see the dark clouds and hear rolls of thunder.  I am not only humbled by the power of nature and the force it can expel but by Laisayani and her hospitality.  With so many mouths to feed Laisayani still opened her home and table for me to share a meal.  Like her, so many in Nabau Village who have so little are sharing all they have with their neighbours. It encourages me to do my part and give what I can so ADRA’s food ration packs can continue to help those that stay in Nabau Village.
Story by Julie-Maree Southen. ADRA NZ Emergency Response Team

Laisayani tells of waking at 6am, standing on her balcony and looking over the rising river to Semo Village.  It wasn't uncommon for the river to rise, crossing the old broken bridge that use to link the two villages, when there had been heavy rain for long periods.  Laisayani was not alarmed and went about her morning duties. However, only one hour later, she looked and the river level had reached the houses that lined the riverbank.  Fear began to grip her as she thought of her elderly parents in the village.  She felt so helpless standing there, being so close and just watching, unable to go there or assist anyone as water blocked all access.  The most she could do was phone her brother, a policeman in the village, to alert him of the danger.

A number of the villagers were still sleeping, resting from the village function the previous night.  Completely oblivious of the peril they were in many slept on, only to awake with water around their beds.  Some tried to quickly grab what belongings they could, taking them to the highest point of ground and stacking things in the church.  Others had no time to save any possessions and simply escaped with their lives.

During previous floods the village community hall had always been a place of safety, their evacuation centre, so some gathered there out of the rain while others went to higher ground.  The next two hours seemed to drag for many as they huddled together, awaiting rescue.  Water was now freely flowing through most of the village with a swift current.  The ten or so people who had sought refuge in the community hall now clambered up on the roof to flee the abundance of water inside the hall. From Nabau village, Semo village appeared as a small and insignificant island within a mass of water.  Laisayani could hear panicky voices calling for a boat to rescue them.  

Finally, at around 9am, a boat came.  Instant screaming and laughter could be heard from across the river above the sound of raging water and torrential rain. Laisayani’s parents were first to board the boat with some of the young children who immediately felt a sense of safety, laughing and waving at those left behind as they crossed the river to Nabau village, their place of refuge.

It wasn’t safe for those on the roof of the community hall to be rescued directly into the small boat.  Climbing down they entered into the dark muddy water, swimming with all their strength to reach the church and await their ride to safety.  It must have taken 40 or more river crossings for the one small boat to rescue the 300 residents of Semo village along with Adi Moteaduba’s dog and five puppies.  Only 12 men remained in the village, staying in one of the three houses which water refrained to enter.

When the water eventually receded 46 houses stood, in part or whole, damaged with mud up to knee deep inside many of them.  Destruction was so great the government condemned the village.  Unable to return to their homes, possibly for another two months or more, those from Semo Village continue to stay in Nabau.  

With village vegetable crops also destroyed in the flood along with many farms in the area, Laisayani is expecting a real food shortage in the next two weeks.  Already she has noticed a reduction in availability of produce with vegetables starting to rot from the bad weather. She, among many, are so grateful for the assistance that ADRA has provided since the flooding happened. Between 1st -15th April, ADRA distributed a total of 824 family ration packs, 600 emergency WASH kits and 37 water survival bags to those in flood affected areas.  Laisayani says it’ll be several months before the village can replant their crops and is anticipating lots of rice and roti on the menu for her guests in the future.  It’s a great strain on a village to more than double its size overnight but not a single person complains, instead each remains grateful for their health and safety. As I finish my meal I see the dark clouds and hear rolls of thunder.  I am not only humbled by the power of nature and the force it can expel but by Laisayani and her hospitality.  With so many mouths to feed Laisayani still opened her home and table for me to share a meal.  Like her, so many in Nabau Village who have so little are sharing all they have with their neighbours. It encourages me to do my part and give what I can so ADRA’s food ration packs can continue to help those that stay in Nabau Village.

Story by Julie-Maree Southen. ADRA NZ Emergency Response Team