The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Fiji Red Cross Society are on high alert to respond to the potentially severe humanitarian consequences of Tropical Cyclone Winston in Fiji.
The cyclone first made landfall in the outer islands of islands of Fiji yesterday afternoon and reached Fiji’s second largest island, Vanua Levu, this morning.
The Red Cross is coordinating with the National Disaster Management authorities in Fiji and has taken various measures to prepare for the impact of the storm.
Over 300 staff and volunteers have been activated at the Fiji Red Cross headquarters and across its 14 branches.
The Government has prepared 758 emergency evacuation centres across the country and the Red Cross has readied equipment, vehicles, Emergency Response Teams and stocks of relief items for distribution across the country if needed.
IFRC has also mobilized its international network to support any emergency response actions on the ground.
