“The breadfruits are ripening and cassava (in the ground) was edible but in a stage of deterioration,” Matokana Village headman Josefa Nadavo said indicating the village currently had limited food supplies.
The Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Engineering unit is ready to carry out reconstruction after Cyclone Gita.
RFMF Engineers’ Operations Officer Major Sanaila Vitukalulu said they would not be part of the survey team to leave for Ono-i-Lau and Vatoa today but they would be waiting for the report on the cyclone damage on the two islands.
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A report provided by the director Fiji National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) Anare Leweniqila said 10 houses were totally destroyed and 26 partly damaged.
Mr Leweniqila said the Provincial Administrator (PA) Lau, Eliki Masa, flew to Ono-i-Lau with a team to conduct the initial damage assessment.
The team to conduct the detailed assessment would leave today on the Government vessel Iloilovatu.
Speaking from Matokana village, Ono-i-Lau yesterday village headman Josefa Nadavo said they had limited food supplies.
“The breadfruits are ripening and cassava (in the ground) was edible but in a stage of deterioration,” Mr Nadavo said.
He said shops had no food supply as there had been no vessels calling at the island for weeks.
Mr Leweniqila said a team from the Ministry of Agriculture would also be going to carry out the detailed damage assessment to the plantations.
Edited by Rusiate Mataika
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