10-month-old baby among those presumed dead in Fiji cyclone

“In the immediate aftermath of a disaster such as a cyclone, UNICEF’s first priority is to ensure the protection and wellbeing of the most vulnerable, including children, pregnant women and new mothers”, said UNICEF Pacific Deputy Representative Isabelle Austin.

Government spokesman Ewan Perrin said the death toll on Koro Island had reached double figures and that most buildings there had been heavily damaged or flattened.

The Red Cross has warned that the toll could still rise further.

The Red Cross, on Wednesday, said volunteers were distributing urgent supplies to remote communities and the New Zealand branch sent more than 1000 tarpaulins and 500 emergency shelter kits.

Winston, the most powerful storm ever recorded in the southern hemisphere and one that Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama described as an “assault on Fiji”, lashed the country at the weekend with wind gusts of up to 325kmh. He said a lack of reliable communications had proved to be a serious challenge.

Meanwhile, aid organisations and Fijian government authorities have been racing to deal with a critical need for clean water, health supplies and emergency accommodation after powerlines, roads, jetties and homes were destroyed and damaged.

“I’m 75 years old and the damage I’ve seen, the extent of the damage, this must be the worst thing in living memory for Fiji”, he told Radio New Zealand.

“Fiji has suffered a awful blow, and this rebuilding process won’t happen overnight”, he said.

“We took a lot of clothes – our kids’ clothes, my clothes, my wife’s clothes – and we bought food and drinks, and just handed it out to the communities because we can come home and buy more stuff”.

Survivors recalled harrowing tales of the maximum category cyclone, the first in Fiji’s history, which is already simply being referred to as “the monster” by locals.

She also said that agency is working around the clock preparing supplies for transport and distribution through the Government of Fiji, which is providing extremely strong leadership on this response.

“I tried everything in my power to do something but could not”.

The cyclone has killed at least 29 people and left thousands in evacuation centres.

“The house started to fall and waves started to thump on us”.

“We still haven’t found him”.