Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says the Ministry of Housing and Community Development is working to provide relief to high-need households affected by Tropical Cyclone Harold as quickly as possible.
According to the latest NDMO report, 635 homes across the country were destroyed by TC Harold, with over 2,100 suffering damage.
Bainimarama says as has been the case in the wake of previous cyclones, the government will be subsidising the cost of government-procured building materials for eligible households, those making less than $15,000 a year, on a one-third, two-thirds basis.
He says alternately, those applying for assistance can cover the cost of all building materials but pay more affordable rates based on government bulk-buying, and then have those discounted materials delivered to them with all shipping costs covered.
Bainimarama confirms that trees felled by the cyclone are also being repurposed into timber that will be provided free-of-charge for impacted homes by the Ministry of Forestry.
The Prime Minister says for anyone benefiting from this programme who cannot secure carpenters of their own, the Ministry of Housing and Community Development’s carpentry team, assisted by the Public Rental Board, will be provided free of charge for repairs and reconstruction.
He says they will also be assisting with building plans to ensure the new homes are cyclone-resilient, and they will also be carrying out site inspections to keep everything up to standard.
The Prime Minister also says assistance has made its way to the hardest-hit areas across Fiji, with thousands of food ration packs and other supplies being delivered to even the most remote corners of the country.
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