In 1993, Cyclone Kina left a significant impact on Fiji, forcing many residents to confront the challenging process of rebuilding their lives.
On January 19, 1993, The Fiji Times highlighted the extensive destruction caused by the cyclone and the recovery efforts underway. Saroj Kumari, a housewife from Nacokalka Road near Baulevu, voiced her frustration as her family grappled with the loss of their home and belongings.
The cyclone had wreaked havoc, leading to the destruction of their furniture and essential household items. Ms. Kumari shared her experience with the newspaper, describing how the Rewa River overflowed, inundating their tin shack and compelling them to salvage a few belongings before seeking safety on a nearby hill.
The flood damage rendered their furniture irreparable, forcing them to burn the soaked items. “We will have to begin all over again,” said Ms. Kumari. “Cyclone Kina has destroyed all our treasured items — beds, wardrobes, settees, tables, mattresses, and blankets.”
Despite the challenges, Ms. Kumari, her construction worker husband, and their three children are slowly attempting to rebuild their lives. “But it’s going to be hard to start over like this,” she expressed gratitude for the assistance from the Disaster Management Committee. “We have enough food to last a month.”
In Koroqaqa, residents were coping with the aftermath of dead livestock. Soldiers had burned deceased cows that were still present, causing an unpleasant smell and raising health concerns. A local reported the discovery of over 200 dead cows, many still buried beneath the debris.
In Waila, near Nausori, Bhan Mati, a 45-year-old resident, was living in a tent with her 18-year-old son, awaiting government support for rebuilding her home. “This is the first time I have seen food distributed so quickly and fairly,” she stated, expressing satisfaction with the rations received.
When asked about potential cases of people receiving food they didn’t deserve, Mrs. Mati replied, “No, we haven’t heard of that, but they should not be doing that.” Residents along Corbett Avenue in Waila reported minimal damage to their homes, yet they still received food rations like tinned fish, mutton, and flour. Some questioned the distribution, suggesting that help might have been better directed to those who incurred more severe damage.
Krishan Prasad, a divisional planning officer for the Central region, addressed concerns regarding the ration distribution, attributing issues to registration errors. He explained that advisory councillors had distributed supplies based on their lists. Mr. Prasad promised to review the distribution process to address complaints and confirmed that additional food supplies would be offered to those who had received limited provisions initially.