The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has a budget of $81,000 for identified programmes to rehabilitate men and women in Koro Island.

UNDP Tropical Cyclone Winston Rehabilitation Programme manager, Alifereti Bulivou said the money was to assist the islanders as both a short and long term investment.

Mr Bulivou said for the first phase of the project, $1400 has been spent on weaving projects for women and $30,000 for the first yaqona shoots for the men.

The second phase he said was ongoing with his staff as they are sourcing the second lot of yaqona cuttings from Taveuni where another $50,000 would be spent.

By Christmas time, he said women organised under the Pandanus Weaving Programme would be sharing a return of $40,800.

To support the weaving programme, Mr Bulivou said a fair has been organised in the near future to market the mats.

“The mats will be sold at the designated venue and money returned to the women for Christmas,” Mr Bulivou said.

“I am calling on people who have blood links to Koro Island to keep an eye on our Facebook page as we source the venue for the fair,” he said.