Disaster Updates – Winter 2021
8 May, 2021
Timor-Leste Flooding
After torrential rain hit Timor-Leste on April 4, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Dili and ADRA Timor-Leste has responded by distributing household kits. These kits included bedding and kitchen items, food, cleaning supplies and drinking water for families requiring urgent support. “ADRA Timor-Leste is ready to keep supporting these services with available resources to help the affected families recover their lives,” says Deonisio Alves, ADRA Timor-Leste.
Due to the resulting flooding, 38 evacuation centres have been set up in Dili for over 13,000 severely affected people.
“I feel very happy because with the support from ADRA today we can receive some support, we receive kitchen kits and some other items that could help us normalize our houses,” says Macario, a local who was affected by the floods.
COVID-19 in PNG
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Papua New Guinea (PNG) is partnering with ADRA to run various programs to respond to the pandemic. One of these programs was a COVID-19 radio awareness program which reached approximately 10,000 people across PNG. The radio messaging provided awareness to people of all ages, including children, and especially to vulnerable people in their communities.
The ADRA Church Partnership Program (CPP) in PNG has been able to help ten schools in the Morobe Province by providing ten handwashing stations which have benefited 5,947 students and teachers. These handwashing stations were made possible by the 45 plastic drums donated by Laga Industry Company, the ADRA WASH program and the carpentry department of the Morobe mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
A food security training program was also provided as part of the COVID-19 response in the Western Province, which aimed to target four villages in Orimo. Thirty-six participants attended the training, where six different types of drought and pest resistant seeds were provided, and one multiplication plot was established. The training provided participants skills in growing and eating a variety of foods and the multiplication of seeding.
Cyclone Yasa
In mid-December 2020, category five cyclone Yasa hit Fiji, destroying homes, crops and belongings, and causing widespread flooding. As a result, the spread of water-borne diseases is high. By 11 January 2021, 277 water, sanitation and hygiene kits had been distributed to 18 affected communities, which helped over 1,300 people. ADRA Fiji’s primary concern was combatting the risk of waterborne diseases like leptospirosis, typhoid, dengue and diarrhoea. Because many water supplies were contaminated from the cyclone, one key component of the kits was a water filter that allowed river water to be safe for consumption.
“We’ve seen and heard the plight of the people who have contaminated water supplies,” says Akanisi Ranadinivugalei, ADRAFiji’s distribution team leader. “We have positioned our response to first meet the immediate need of addressing water, sanitation and hygiene before we look into other areas of priority.”
“Our greatest appreciation goes to our donors for ensuring help arrives at the doorsteps of vulnerable communities,” says Akanisi.
“We were surprised when the team arrived today and they brought with them what is really needed here,” said the head of Nasigasiga Village. “We are thankful to ADRA for their assistance.”