Australia Pumps In $9million For Fiji’s Cyclone Recovery Efforts
The support is intended for the rehabilitation of schools in the Northern Division that were damaged by Tropical Cyclone Yasa and the reconstruction of the Vunisea Hospital in Kadavu and Waiyevo Hospital in Taveuni. The total support, including those that started during COVID-19 is about FJ$370m.
Wednesday 14 June 2023 | 18:30
Australian High Commission in Fiji Chargé d’affaires Stuart Watts with Minister for Finance Biman Prasad.
The Fiji Government has received an additional funding of $9million from the Government of Australia for Cyclone Recovery efforts in the country.
The additional funding agreement was formalised by the Minister for Finance Biman Prasad and Australian High Commission in Fiji Chargé d’affaires, Stuart Watts yesterday.
The support is intended for the rehabilitation of schools in the Northern Division that were damaged by Tropical Cyclone Yasa and the reconstruction of the Vunisea Hospital in Kadavu and Waiyevo Hospital in Taveuni.
Minister for Finance Biman Prasad expressed his gratitude to the Australian Government for its assistance to Fiji through the Vuvale Partnership.
“This support for education and health is timely,” Mr Prasad said.
“On behalf of the Government of Fiji and the Prime Minister, I would like to thank the Australian Government for all the support that it has rendered to Fiji over the years.”
The total support, including those that started during COVID-19 is about FJ$370m.
“This additional support amounting to FJ$9m (AUD$6m) is a critical help, given that we still have not completed rehabilitating the schools that were damaged during Cyclone Yasa,” he said.
“These nine schools selected in Vanua Levu which were damaged by TC Yasa are critical infrastructure for our rural education – including primary and secondary education.
“I saw firsthand the conditions in which our students were studying in, so this help in building the schools is a critical and timely assistance by the Australian Government and we are grateful for that.
“The $AUD5m from this $AUD6m is going towards rehabilitating/reconstructing two important health facilities in the outer islands of Taveuni and Kadavu,” Minister Prasad said.
Mr Watts said that along with education, the strengthening health services is a key pillar of the Vuvale Partnership.
He added that the deliberate decision to use local Fijian builders, contractors and suppliers for the recovery programme has also been welcomed as it directly contributed to the Fijian economy.
Australia’s assistance to Fiji through the DFAT Cyclone Recovery programme amounts to a total value of almost FJ$52m.
Story by: inoke.rabonu@fijisun.com.fj
