More than two thousand evacuees are taking shelter at various evacuation centers around the country as of this morning.

The National Disaster Management Office says the main focus now is for divisional commissioners to carry out damage assessments and ensure evacuees are given efficient rations.

NDMO Director, Anare Leweniqila says after a briefing on the track of TC Mona and its minimal impacts with Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama today – they have decided to operate as normal.

“For the North, we have around 27 with around 1,767 evacuees. Eastern we had 7 with around 137, Western we had 2 with around 17 evacuees and in the Central we had 4 with around 179. So for the western division as per the briefing, most have closed. So the commissioners were going around just to see which are active and also to supply food rations for those that might be open for a bit longer.”

Leweniqila says all emergency operators were prepared for TC Mona, however, they’re now focusing on the recovery aspect.

“For the next 24 to 48 hours is to work on relief and recovery operations, the divisional commissioners are now working on visiting the evacuation centers and also to supply two to three days food rations if required. The Ministry for Health is taking the lead role on the inspection of evacuation centers to conduct medical assessments for evacuees and also visiting their homes.”

The NDMO says they will now work with their emergency operators to get the schools used as evacuation centers cleaned to ensure it’s ready for the start of a new school year next week.