Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) staff are visiting members in Waidamudamu Settlement, Nakasi and Navosai within the Suva lockdown area to verify the extent of damage to their homes.

The Government has granted members a chance to withdraw up to $2000 from FNPF for damages left by Tropical Cyclone Harold last week.

In Waidamudamu, the president of the community Mehboob Rahim Ali, claimed 75 homes had been damaged.

He said most damages were caused by the tornado while some were affected by the flood.

“It was the high tide that forced water into more homes than usual. The situation for most people is not good,” he said.

“I met with residents and compiled a list of those who claim to have suffered.”

Waidamudamu is one of the few informal settlements that has a budgetary allocation for proper development of lots.

FNPF chief financial officer Pravinesh Singh said teams were there to inspect and collect applications from members living in areas that have been classified as worst affected by the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO).

The team would then verify if the damage claimed by members were genuine or not.

“FNPF is working closely with the NDMO teams and the District Offices to identify areas that have been greatly impacted,” he said.

“The outcome of the NDMO assessment will also include a confirmed listing of households affected in the identified locations. We understand the urgency of the situation because homes and personal properties have been destroyed.”

Mr Singh said members must liaise with their village headman or turaga-ni-koro and advisory councillors as its teams would base their assessments on their recommendations.

Only members who have sufficient funds in their General Accounts, will be eligible for this withdrawal.

Edited by Caroline Ratucadra

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