China takes lead in providing aid to cyclone-hit Fiji

[TaiShang]

China takes lead in providing aid to cyclone-hit Fiji


China on Monday provided emergency humanitarian aid of 100,000 U.S. dollars to the Fiji Red Cross Society, becoming the first country to do so in the aftermath of severe tropical cyclone Winston that has claimed at least 20 lives, the Fiji Red Cross Society's top official said.

While handing over the emergency humanitarian aid to Cathy Wong, national president of the Fiji Red Cross Society, Gu Yu, charge d'affaires of the Chinese embassy in Fiji said China sympathizes with the Fijian people on their sufferings and will do the utmost to help the Fijian people rebuild their homes.

The Chinese embassy is in close connection with relevant departments of the Fijian government for disaster situation updates, Gu said, adding that China is willing to continue to provide humanitarian aid to Fiji and actively participate in its reconstruction.

Expressing heartfelt gratitude for the "timely donation" by the Red Cross Society of China, Wong said China is the first country to donate to the Fiji Red Cross Society.

The Fiji Red Cross Society will make effective use of the aid in disaster relief and reconstruction, said Wong.

Winston, a category 5 tropical cyclone -- the highest possible level -- swept through Fiji between the Pacific island country's main island of Viti Levu and northern island of Vanua Levu with wind gusts of over 320 kilometers per hour, tearing roofs, uprooting trees and cutting power supply as well as communications.

Fiji has declared a state of natural disaster for a period of 30 days.

At least 20 people lost their lives as a result of the severe tropical cyclone, authorities announced Monday.

China's Ministry of Commerce has declared that it is working on a plan to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to Fiji.

 

[C130]

$100,000 dollars

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

China takes lead in providing aid to cyclone-hit Fiji

NZ sends more aid to Fiji | Radio New Zealand News

New Zealand will send more aid to Fiji after it's assessed the damage from Cyclone Winston.

A New Zealand Defence Force C-130 Hercules is on its to Fiji.

Photo: DEFENCE

The most powerful storm in the country's recorded history barrelled into the Fiji mainland and neighbouring smaller islands late on Saturday destroying entire villages, flooding low-lying areas, and wiping out crops and 20 deaths are confirmed.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully said the government had released another $1.8 million to support New Zealand non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working on the ground there.

A second Defence Force plane will also fly to Fiji Monday night carrying relief supplies and to help with damage assessment.

A New Zealand Defence Force C-130 Hercules is on its to Fiji.

Photo: DEFENCE

Mr McCully said it was clear Fiji faced a major clean-up and recovery operation.

"The death toll from Cyclone Winston continues to rise and reports of widespread damage are coming in from across Fiji," Mr McCully said.

"This evening a New Zealand Defence Force C-130 will depart for Suva carrying relief supplies and a Joint Reconnaissance Team made up of NZDF personnel, and Fire Service and Ministry of Health staff."

The Red Cross said authorities in Fiji were struggling to get an accurate picture of the damage caused by Cyclone Winston because telecommunication systems were down.

The Red Cross's operations manger in Fiji Melanie Ogle told RNZ News no one was quite sure yet of the full extent of the damage.

"All agencies, including Government, are a little bit hampered by the lack of information and the telecommunications being down," she said.

"I think we'll get a much clearer picture in the next 12 to 24 hours."

A New Zealand Defence Force Orion has been helping with aerial surveillance of the outer islands of Koro, Lau, Taveuni and Rabi which were hit by the Category 5 storm.

Listen to Prime Minister John Key on Morning Report ( 8 min 15 sec )

Prime Minister John Key told Morning Report following assessments of what is required in Fiji, next steps would be decided on where New Zealand might be able to help.

"I don't think there's any doubt that we would end up doing more up there."

He said Fiji knew New Zealand was waiting in the wings to help them.

"Now we're going through the cleanup phase we'll give them a chance to come back to us and say 'well look this is what we think are the next appropriate steps'."

The morning after category five Cyclone Winston hit Fiji.

Photo: Twitter / @Alinaziah

He said next steps were likely to be around structural repairs, including damage to infrastructure.

 

[TaiShang]

Expressing heartfelt gratitude for the "timely donation" by the Red Cross Society of China, Wong said China is the first country to donate to the Fiji Red Cross Society.

 

[Aepsilons]

What is important that all respective great powers are contributing to Fiji's rehabilitation. Our sympathies and our good wishes are with the Fijian people, and the Nation of Fiji.

We must be empathetic here and should not count on how much one gives, but recognize the spirit of the giver and giving process. I think it is unhealthy and very low to do any lambasting , just my personal opinion, actually.

 

[jhungary]

lol, THE OP NOW REPORTING MAKE UP NEWS??

The Chinese donate 100,000 USD to Fiji on the 22nd of February (Monday) where the New Zealander donate 50,000 on the 21st (Sunday) already as per official NZ government source

quoting NZ government portal on 21st February 2016

beehive.govt.nz - NZ sends Orion and releases aid to Fiji

NZ sends Orion and releases aid to Fiji

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has outlined the initial support that New Zealand will provide to Fiji as they respond to Tropical Cyclone Winston.

“Tropical Cyclone Winston appears to have caused major damage on the Northern Coast of Vitu Levu and sadly one person has now been confirmed dead,” Mr McCully says.

“New Zealand stands ready to assist the people of Fiji as they deal with the aftermath of Cyclone Winston and we are in close contact with the Government of Fiji.

“A New Zealand Defence Force Orion P3 has just departed Whenuapai to help the Fiji authorities carry out aerial surveillance and damage assessments.

“In addition we have made an initial $50,000 available via our High Commission to ensure we can respond rapidly to urgent requests from the Fiji Government. We have also authorised the release of up to $170,000 worth of pre-positioned relief supplies, held by non-government partners such as Rotary and UNICEF in Fiji.

“It is clear that further support will be required and we will be working with the local authorities over the coming days to determine how we can best assist,” Mr McCully says.

New Zealanders with concerns about friends and family in Fiji should attempt to make contact directly in the first instance (noting that communication lines may be down in parts of Northern Fiji).

If there are on-going concerns, please contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade: on 04 439-8000 (if calling from within New Zealand) or +64 4 439-8000 (if calling from outside New Zealand).

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They specifically said the New Zealand have ALREADY made $50,000 on Sunday (when the article broke) and vouch to continue support to Fijian government. So either 21st Feb is later than 22nd Feb or the $50,000 the NZ govt pledge has gone or the NZ government is simply lying, there are NO WAY THE CHINESE IS FIRST TO SEND AID....

the Chinese is the first to donate to Fiji red cross, not the first one to lead aide to Fijian government. Have to admire the OP have the gull to change a topic to a fake news like that.

Please do look at what you wrote as title and compare to this. The first one to lead the aid and rescue is the New Zealander....Not Chinese...

In fact, China is after Australia to start pledging aid to FIji. as per Fuji time. Australian pledged AUD 5,000,000 on 22nd Feb and the Chinese pledged on the 23rd

Australia gives $5m assistance package to Fiji - Fiji Times Online
Chinese Government gives $100k - Fiji Times Online

but meh, NZ beats Australia and China in this sense.

 

[C130]

$100,000 USD dollars from the 2nd largest economy in the world and the largest in Asia

Australia and New Zealand gave more and sooner.

 

[TaiShang]

China to offer aid to cyclone-hit Fiji
Source: Xinhua
Editor: Zhang Tao
2016-02-21 17:250

BEIJING, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- China is planning to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to Fiji after it was hit by a deadly cyclone.

The Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said on Sunday that it is working on a plan to help reconstruction in the South Pacific island country.

Fiji declared a state of natural disaster on Saturday as it was hit by tropical Cyclone Winston, which has killed at least three people, destroyed hundreds of homes and shredded crops.