The Yasawa community experienced a significant advancement with the inauguration of a new evacuation center in Yalobi Village on Wednesday, marking a progressive change from previous challenges. During Hurricane Bebe in 1972, villagers faced the harrowing task of transporting their vulnerable members to a cave for protection. The newly established center aims to eliminate such dangerous journeys and enhance disaster preparedness in the area.
Assistant Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Jovesa Vocea, officially opened the facility, which represents an investment of $62,139, including a $29,433 contribution from the government to upgrade an existing structure. Vocea expressed gratitude towards the United Nations Development Programme’s Governance for Resilience Project (UNDP Gov4Res), which provided $32,706 under the Risk-Informed Development initiative.
“This project highlights the collaborative effort between the UNDP Gov4Res Project and our government, particularly the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management,” he stated. He also commended the local villagers for their $47,000 contribution to the project.
Vocea emphasized the center’s importance as a refuge for around 200 residents of the community, providing safety and shelter during emergencies. The village headman, Nacanieli Vakalagilagi, remarked that the facility would offer protection against the region’s vulnerability to natural disasters, including cyclones and flooding.
Vakalagilagi recalled the difficulties faced during Hurricane Bebe and expressed relief that those distressing memories would now give way to a sense of security with this new milestone. The evacuation center features a two-sided porch, a modern kitchen, separate restrooms, ramps for disabled access, two 10,000-liter rainwater storage tanks, kitchen items, furniture, and a solar power system, all designed to support the community’s needs during emergencies.