Women have been praised for being at the forefront of the rebuilding of families and communities in the aftermath of disasters.

“Women are the fabric that was going to weave society together,” Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Rosy Akbar said yesterday while officiating as the chief guest at the launch of the first ever Women Friendly Space (WFS) meeting in Rakiraki.

United Nations Population Fund director Dr Laurent Zessler was also present at the function. The project is supported by the UNFPA.

“Never think you have a minor role to play,” Ms Akbar told the women of Rakiraki while opening the tent that would be used for counselling women and offering support.

“We have a very important role in rebuilding families and communities especially during this crucial time when we are all moving together to rebuild homes.

“That is why we are putting you at the centre of these things by having such places like the WFS.”

Ms Akbar said while men looked at rebuilding the structural damage to homes, women took care of the finer details of the family.

“These include making sure that damaged clothes and beddings are dried out, the health and hygiene of families were paramount,” she said. “The rehabilitation process will take a long time.”

She said while homes may get built, the emotional suffering and psycho-social support should be ongoing.

Ms Akbar said there would be seven such centres set up around the cyclone hit areas. Local non-government organisation Empower Pacific and the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre would play a leading role in the running of the centre.

Edited by Rusiate Mataika

Feedback: charles.chambers@fijisun.com.fj