Village in Fiji relocated after landslide and cyclone disasters

The community of Tukuraki, in the highlands of Fiji, moved into their newly built, disaster resilient village, after five years of living in temporary housing.

Formerly based under a steep mountain, Tukuraki village was located in a highly vulnerable site. In January 2012, a landslide triggered after a week of heavy rains swept through the community, burying 80% of the village and killing a family of four. The landslide wiped out the village access road, fresh water resources and homes. The community was forced to relocate to temporary homes, under the risk of further landslides.

Just 10 months later, the community was hit by the Category 4 Tropical Cyclone Evan, while they were struck again in February 2016, when Cyclone Winston caused widespread destruction across Fiji. As a result, the Fiji Government deemed relocation for the community an urgent priority and approached the Pacific Community (SPC) to support in this work. Today, 11 homes and a community hall, built to category five cyclone standards, are officially opened.

The $756,000 FJD relocation of the Tukuraki Village to a less disaster prone site was made possible through the Building Safety and Resilience in the Pacific Project (BSRP), funded by the European Union and the ACP Group of States and implemented by the Pacific Community. The BSRP Project is committed at reducing the vulnerability for the Pacific to disaster and climate change.

Along with the eleven homes and the evacuation center, the Tukuraki community has also been assisted with a retaining wall (to prevent soil erosion), road access, site levelling and a playground. The community was also provided with access to reliable water sources, as the project built a dam nearby and strategically placed water tanks that connect to each household.

"We are proud to partner up with the Fiji government and the Pacific Community on this project as it not only has helped the people of this community, it has also established for the nation what a resilient rural community looks like. With the effects of climate change and rising tides threatening coastal communities all over the Pacific, Tukuraki stands as a great example of how effective partnerships can sustain development" the European Union head of Cooperation, Mr. Christoph Wagner said.