Environment Minister Dr Mahendra Reddy [right] [Source: Fijian Government]

The restoration of basic needs and livelihood of communities affected by natural disasters will now be more efficient.

This follows the donation of the five-million-dollar worth of machinery from the Japanese government to Fiji.

Environment Minister Dr Mahendra Reddy says the machinery will provide immediate assistance to affected communities such as clearing of roadblock, landslides and evacuation of people in the event of a natural disaster.

“The assistance that you have provided today will be utilized to build resilience amongst this communities so that in times of natural disaster, the cost of natural disaster will be minimal and the ability to bounce back from this natural disaster because they have bounced back because we have enhanced them and protected them.”

The items donated include Excavators, dump trucks, motor grader, cargo crane, twin cabs, fork-lifts, tractors and fibreglass boats.