Fiji's Methodist Church sets out cyclone relief plan

Transcript

Fiji's Methodist Church says there's still an immediate need for clothing, cooking equipment and bedding for those affected by Cyclone Winston.

The church has mapped out its response to the devastation caused by the category five storm, which includes filling in gaps in current relief efforts.

Reverend James Bhagwan says as part of the plan, the church is working to get its 32 schools open as soon as possible and train disaster chaplains to help those traumatised by the storm recover.

JAMES BHAGWAN: We have tried to look at other avenues which are also important in terms of cooking utensils, clothing - a lot of people have lost their clothes and all they have is what they are wearing for the last few days, we also realise that as rice and flour and cooking ingredients are being delivered they also need to be able to cook. So we are also looking at cooking utensils, kerosene stoves and lights as well as the fuel for those stoves. We are also looking to see how our schools, which we are receiving reports of damage at our schools on Viti Levu and other islands, how they can be repaired so that our children can get back to school as soon as possible. The other side is the pastoral concern. We know there are a lot of people severely traumatised by this disaster. And we are working with our partners from Uniting World in Australia to bring in specialist disaster chaplains or people who can do training so we can equip our ministers, pastors, and work with other churches.

MARY BAINES: How would you say the government is doing in distributing aid?

JB: Well we are monitoring at the moment, the devastation has been quite far reaching and the government and the Red Cross are doing all they can. It takes time to mobilise and get relief out, so wherever we can assist is where we are coming in.

MB: I spoke to a government spokesperson who said there are now 59,000 people in evacuation centres. Obviously a lot of them will be housed in churches and community halls. How are churches coping with this, this amount of people?

JB: Well the good thing is in Fiji in every village there is a church. And most likely there is a church or community hall. Now the question is whether they have been damaged or not - that's the question we are trying to answer. Very early on in the aftermath of Winston we did issue the instructions from the general secretary of the Methodist Church that all churches would be made available wherever possible. Whatever we have, we share.

MB: So the churches as evacuation centres will be open indefinitely?

JB: Definitely. We will offer the support.