A remote Fijian village is photographed from the air during a surveillance flight conducted by the New Zealand Defence Force on Feb. 21, 2016.
March 1, 2016
By Sharee Devose
Following the the worst cyclone (click here) ever recorded in the southern hemisphere, the Red Cross is appealing for $7 million to fund emergency efforts in Fiji.
More than 62,000 people are sheltered in evacuation centers 10 days after Tropical Cyclone Winston tore through the Pacific nation.
At least 42 people were killed in the category five storm on February 20, bringing winds up to 325 kph that destroyed homes, crops, and much of the nation’s infrastructure.
Nearly 347,000 people, or 40 percent of the nation’s population, have been affected across Fiji’s 300 islands.
Nearly 347,000 people, or 40 percent of the nation’s population, have been affected across Fiji’s 300 islands.
“Entire villages have been devastated and people are in a state of shock,” said Director General of the Fiji Red Cross Society (click here for donation site) (FRCS) Filipe Nainoca in a statement.The Fiji site asks donor to join, then donate.
NASA - Winston (click here)
The central circulation passed exactly over Fiji. There was no getting away from it. When storms this strong come to the USA, people are evacuated inland away from the force of the wind and ocean. The people of Fiji doesn't have that luxury. They have to shelter within safer places while the storm passes over them. Sometimes those safer places are compromised by the storm.
