The village of Waicoka in Bau, Tailevu, is facing increasing threats from climate change, as rising sea levels and extreme weather are slowly eroding its shoreline, endangering the homes of its residents. Village Headman Osea Kiliraki has described their community hall, once a gathering place, as dangerously deteriorating due to weakened beams and structural damage.
With each passing season, the ocean comes closer to the village, posing a growing concern for the future of its more than 200 residents and 47 homes. Kiliraki emphasized, “Climate change is affecting our village, especially the villagers. Our village hall is no longer safe for meetings on the top floor.”
In a bid to combat the relentless flooding, the community has been heightening the seawall, but the encroaching waters continue to challenge their efforts. The villagers have expressed an urgent plea for assistance from relevant authorities to help protect them from the rising tides.
This situation mirrors similar challenges faced by other coastal communities in the region, such as those on Vatulele Island and Kia Island, where residents are also grappling with severe coastal erosion and the urgent need for seawall construction. For example, residents in Vatulele Island are building sandbags to protect their land, highlighting community cooperation known as the solesolevaki concept, while residents on Kia Island are making similar appeals for government action to safeguard their homes.
The stories from Waicoka and these other villages illustrate not just the serious threats posed by climate change but also the resilience and collaborative efforts of their communities to tackle the crisis. As these groups voice their pleas for help, there is hope that their collective actions and consistent advocacy will prompt greater governmental support and infrastructure improvements to safeguard their futures against the advancing effects of climate change.
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