| Project Detail |
Project Name Tropical Cyclone Harold Emergency Response Project
Project Number 54229-001
Country Fiji
Project Status Active
Project Type / Modality of Assistance Grant
Source of Funding / Amount
Grant 0697-FIJ: Tropical Cyclone Harold Emergency Response Project
Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund US$ 400,000.00
Strategic Agendas Environmentally sustainable growth
Inclusive economic growth
Drivers of Change Governance and capacity development
Private sector development
Sector / Subsector
Public sector management / Public expenditure and fiscal management
Gender Equity and Mainstreaming No gender elements
Description
Tropical cyclone (TC) Harold, a category 4 cyclone, struck Fiji on 8 and 9 April 2020. With average hurricane force winds over 170 km/h and gusts up to 240 km/h, the cyclone caused widespread destruction across the Central, Eastern, and Western divisions in Fiji. Many small and remote islands lay in the direct path of TC Harold. It is estimated that more than 182,500 people in Fiji (or around 20% of the population) were directly affected. Destructive winds, storm surges and flooding from TC Harold destroyed villages, homes and government buildings, and severely damaged agriculture and infrastructure, including for water supply, waste and sanitation, electricity, and communications. An estimated 90% of crops have been destroyed in the most affected areas, leaving families with no alternative food source. Outbreaks of typhoid, leptospirosis, and dengue fever have been identified by the Ministry of Health as a major concern.
A state of natural disaster was declared for the affected divisions in Fiji on 12 April 2020. The NDMO is coordinating and monitoring relief efforts which are being undertaken by government agencies and local and international nongovernmental organizations. This has been particularly challenging given the remoteness of affected islands, travel restrictions due to COVID-19 outbreak, disruption to communication channels, limited number of boat vessels undertaking assessments, and stretched human resources. |
