TC Harold

ADB contributes $900,000 towards Harold relief efforts

April 29, 2020 12:40 pm

The Asian Development Bank has provided around $900,000 grant to help fund priority recovery activities following Tropical Cyclone Harold.

The Asian Development Bank has provided around $900,000 grant to help fund priority recovery activities following Tropical Cyclone Harold.

The Category 4 cyclone caused widespread destruction in Fiji and several Pacific countries.

ADB Director General for the Pacific Leah Gutierrez says the emergency funds may be used to provide support for the restoration of basic social services to communities affected by the cyclone.

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TC Harold affected parts of Viti Levu and the islands of Kadavu, Vatulele, and the Lau group, causing widespread damage, felling trees, blocking roads, causing flash floods, and cutting water supplies, power, and telecommunications.

Early damage assessments indicate at least 182,500 people in Fiji were exposed to the storm, which destroyed entire villages.

Up to 70% of homes and more than half of assessed schools and health centers in affected areas are completely destroyed or partly damaged.

Extensive damage to agriculture, with 90% of crops reportedly destroyed in the most affected areas, has left families with little or no alternative food source.

Outbreaks of typhoid, leptospirosis, and dengue fever have been identified by the Ministry of Health as major concerns.

This is ADB’s second grant to the Pacific to help recover from Tropical Cyclone Harold, after Vanuatu received $1 million in assistance last week.