The Australian government has given a grant of $19.6 million to boost Fiji’s cyclone recovery program –– which will focus on the rehabilitation of school buildings damaged by Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa.
The signing of a direct funding arrangement on Friday between the Fijian and Australian governments should see the funds being used over the next three fiscal periods (2021-2022, 2022-2023 and 2023-2024) as the projects progress.
Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said the past few months had been very challenging for Fiji after being hit by two destructive tropical cyclones and a massive second wave of COVID-19.
“Category 5 TC Yasa hit Fiji just eight months after Category 5 TC Harold which caused widespread damage to the south-eastern parts of Fiji, which caused four casualties, affected 139,259 people, and caused significant damage to public infrastructure,” he said.
“Soon after, the Fijian Government developed the Tropical Cyclone Yasa Response and Recovery Plan which identified immediate financing needs amounting to $75.9 million and 3-year financing needs amounting to $162 million.
One of the key priorities of the plan is the rehabilitation and resilient reconstruction of 59 schools.”
The Australian government is supporting to fund the rehabilitation and reconstruction of nine schools in the Northern Division.
These schools include Lekutu Secondary School, Lekutu District School, Nukubulu Primary School, Maramarua District School, Dreketi District School, Bua District School, Dama District School, Wailevu West District School and Ratu Luke Memorial School.
The implementation will be managed by the Australian government through a project support facility run by an independent third party and the Fijian Government through the Ministry of Economy’s Construction Implementation Unit (CIU) will be responsible for cross-checking progress and releasing funds for payment to contractors.
