Tropical Cyclone Winston

When Tropical Cyclone Winston swept across Fiji on 20 February 2016, it left a trail of destruction in its wake. The strongest cyclone ever recorded to hit Fiji, Winston killed 44 people and impacted 350,000 - 40 per cent of the country's population. At least 32,000 buildings were destroyed or damaged. 

A year on, Red Cross is still working to help those affected. 

Sam Naborokia is one of the 77,000 people to receive emergency aid and support from the Red Cross in the past year.

As the cyclone raged overhead, Sam spent the night huddled under his home in Naboutolu village. The wheelchair-bound grandfather was carried there by his family when the storm became too strong to stay in the house.

Sam was one of thousands left homeless by Cyclone Winston. He has recently moved into his new, wheelchair-accessible home, built by Fiji Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

Constructed under a Build Back Safer scheme, the homes are known as "core shelters" and are built as a training exercise to show villagers how to rebuild houses to better withstand a cyclone. Red Cross has completed six so far and plans to build a total of 35 across Fiji.  

Red Cross has also been working with affected communities to minimise diseases such as dengue fever, diahorrea, typhoid and conjunctivitis. So far the National Society has reached 17,000 people with psychosocial, health and hygiene messaging.

During house to house visits, volunteers also screen toddlers for malnutrition and distribute insecticide-treated mosquito nets.

Safe, clean water is vital to stop the spread of disease, so Fiji Red Cross and IFRC are building spring protection systems in selected villages to protect and cleanse the water supply. 

The spring opening is protected with a box and a PVC intake, to stop contamination getting in. IFRC WASH delegate Isara Iose says one of the advantages of this system is its low construction cost. "It's easy to operate and maintain, has a reliable water flow and no seasonal variations.” 

The impact of the cyclone wasn't just physical - people were affected psychologically as well. Red Cross volunteers and staff have reached 3,445 people with psychosocial support.

In the last year, 104 Fiji Red Cross volunteers have been trained to provide psychological first aid to affected communities. A similar process, known as talanoa, or "storytelling" is already practised widely in Fiji.

As well as building demonstration houses and helping repair homes, Red Cross is distributing Build Back Safer guidance and messaging, reaching 700 people so far. 

It has also trained 60 local carpenters in safer construction methods. Twenty-one-year-old Peniasi Waisu of Tuatua village on Koro Island says he's grateful for the training. "Ever since I was a kid I have loved helping people so I was really eager to learn and help build houses for families here in Tuatua."   

Makarita Racani is almost 80, and was chosen by her village to receive a house, after her old one and everything she owned was swept away by a tidal wave during Cyclone Winston. 

She never dreamed that Red Cross would come and build a new home for her and her daughter Lusiana, and was on site every day watching the progress. "I really love my home. It’s a big house, a good house."

The Cyclone Winston recovery operation will continue until May 2017, targeting affected communities with health, hygiene, water, sanitation and shelter assistance.

Fiji Red Cross Director General Filipe Nainoca says he's extremely proud of his staff and volunteers. "Thank you to the volunteers and staff who have sacrificed so much. I'm just so grateful to these people who gave up a lot of their lives their time, and their commitment to help their fellow Fijians."

Here are the latest numbers on Red Cross operations in Fiji:

For updates on Twitter follow @IFRCAsiaPacific and @FijiRedCross #TCWinston #CycloneWinston.