Excerpt From an Email Message From Fiji Passed on by Will Files
Hello Friends and Rotarians,
Bula from Fiji. I am here to report that Fiji this past Saturday experienced a category 5 cyclone named Winston. It is the largest cyclone recorded in the Southern hemisphere. I am OK here in the town of Sigatoka and today we just got power back on. Unfortunately the rest of the island has suffered greatly. In some areas all homes were lost. In outer islands massive destruction has occurred. All schools are shut down for the week and most schools that are in the worst hit areas are destroyed or badly damaged.
Yesterday I went with some friends into the areas where the eye of the storm hit the mainland. It was terrible. Many people are with out food and shelter. The death toll is 42 and still counting. There are still several islands and villages that have very little or no contact.
Today I got a report from my Rotary members in the capitol city of Suva. They went to the most struck areas on their side of the island and found that they were the first people to reach these villages. These villages are essentially destroyed and people are gathering under the few roofs that remain or whatever shelter to get out of the rain and aftermath of the storm.
I am writing to ask for any assistance your Rotary Club or the district can provide to Fiji at this time. I can provide Rotary bank accounts to transfer money and there should be no transfer charges associated with it. Also, Shelter Box I believe arrived this morning and is working with the Rotary Clubs of Fiji. I am attaching a few links below if you are interested.
We are in a state of disaster here and any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you very much,
Vinaka Vaka Levu,
HOLLY GITTLEIN