Women's Weather Watch: Fiji

16 November 2011

As flash flood warnings continue in Fiji, FemLINKPacific's rural network share the following, in an effort to demonstrate that women are a vital source of information for Disaster Risk Management Strategies:

Adi Vasu Chute says: "Lots of rain rivers filling up, strong wind heavy @ Tawake; Udu coast line tides are high for this time of the year which is causing anxiety about tidal waves."

Prem of Vunimoli which is about 20kilometres from Labasa town: "Continuous rain and the river level is rising but there no water in our taps but at least we have (rain)water in our tank."

Paulin Fong Chowdhury reports from Nausori that while there was no rain several hours ago..."Women in several local communities have said that heavy rain continued they were afraid of level in river rising - especially for women living along the river and low lying areas who would experience flooding again."

As we have reported in the past women like Nirmala who manages the Vunicuicui Women's Co-operative store in Labasa and Satya who lives amidst the Korovuto farming community on the outskirts of Nadi Town continue to hope that the weather patterns don't mean another cyclone, as they explained about 6 hours sgo: "...no rain no wind it's very silent, very hot. Weather looks like cyclone but hope it's not"

With these signs, there is a need to ensure information on weather patterns and forecasts are reaching communities away from main centres and because the women are often responsible for the management of their families, evacuation strategies must be gender inclusive, particularly to ensure the safety and protection of women, children, persons with disabilities and the elderly.

Humanitarian and relief supplies must also ensure "care packs" include underwear and sanitary supplies for women and girls.

Sharon Bhagwan Rolls
Executive Director
femLINKPACIFIC

www.femlinkpacific.org.f
Sent via BlackBerry® from Vodafone.

ENDS

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