South Africans in Fiji Devastated…But Still Smiling (Just) After the Cyclone
Three weeks after Cyclone Winston left tens of thousands homeless in Fiji, South African expat Claude Hall reveals what he and others have been going through since the category five storm – the worst ever recorded in the southern hemisphere – ripped through the South Pacific country leaving 44 dead and 62,000 homeless (that’s 7 percent of Fiji’s population). Unicef […]
Three weeks after Cyclone Winston left tens of thousands homeless in Fiji, South African expat Claude Hall reveals what he and others have been going through since the category five storm – the worst ever recorded in the southern hemisphere – ripped through the South Pacific country leaving 44 dead and 62,000 homeless (that’s 7 percent of Fiji’s population).
Unicef announced last week that over 51,000 were still living in evacuation centres (the others were staying with friends or family).
Claude says: “We are all in shock, and there has been so much work to do to make our home live-able again. It’s been devastating here. The whole country has been reeling in shock. It’s difficult to imagine how hard the wind can blow. Sjoe – nature is strong boet.”
He says even his goats, chickens and ducks have become insecure and are staying close to him and his partner Ronelle van Rooyen at all times.
In fact – in one of those amazing animal stories – two of his hens went missing during the cyclone…and just a few days ago, “they came strolling in like they were never away. It’s incredible – they must’ve been blown horizontally in 400click winds, over the hill, and somehow found each other and started their two week journey back home…”
Claude and Ronelle settled in Fiji a few years ago, and bought a farm to start a new life.
Ronelle had left South Africa with her late husband, Deon, after a traumatic robbery at their business. They bought a boat and set sail, cruising around Madagascar and Mayotte with their three young children. Tragically Deon had a fatal heart attack, and so Ronelle decided to set sail in search of a new home.
She hired Claude as one of her boat’s crew members and the rest, as they say, is history. The couple fell in love – with each other, and with Fiji and its people – and decided to to make it their home. They’ve worked tirelessly, putting every last cent they had into the farm.
But Cyclone Winston has disastrously destroyed their years of hard work. And, like other South African expats, they will not get help from the Fijian disaster relief funds as they are “foreigners”, and have had to set up a donation page for help to rebuild their life.
China has pledged $15-million in supplies to the Fiji government and on Friday it was announced that Queen Elizabeth II, as head of the Commonwealth, has made a private donation to the relief effort now that the scale of the damage has become clear.
“The wonderful thing about the culture of the Fijian people is they help each other with everything all the time,” explains Claude. “It’s incredible – families, communities bringing up each other’s children.
“But it’s difficult for us South Africans here. You’re on your own. We’ve survived up to now and of course will continue to, but it’s going to be one hell of a challenge.
“Today I’m trying to work out why water is not getting to our no longer-existent kitchen and bathroom…
“In December three years ago, we had Cyclone Evan which literally wiped us out. But now it’s even worse than before.”
Ronelle says “life is a bit K*k at the moment, but not too bad.
“We are still smiling and trying our best. Our place looks bad, but there are others who suffered more damage.”
One such person is her friend Jean Tikaram whose house is pictured below. Ronelle said: “Jean and her family were in the house, and she was on the phone with me, worrying about us and our safety, when her house ‘exploded’…! (Saffa ofcourse!)”
Tonight Claude said it’s been “a great weekend – our compound really cleaning up nicely… can actually move around without tripping over sticks and things.”