Latest Tasking Plan For Recovery Fleet by Jonathan Robinson

Eight Sea Mercy vessels from New Zealand are clearing into Vanua Balavu on Wednesday/Thursday this week to deliver aid to the remote islands of Northern Lau and half a dozen more will be in Savusavu by the weekend.

The following is an update from Tracey Collins, Sea Mercy Fiji Project Manager, on the activities of other Sea Mercy vessels already working in the area.

S/V SHINE: Left Port Denarau Friday, May 6^th and headed for the Lomaiviti Group of Islands.  They delivered aid to Yanca Village, Morturiki & Naigani Village, as well as Batiki Island. Patrick is heading up the following projects planned for NAIGANI VILLAGE:  

1.        Roofing Structures - build (8) roofing structures with guttering next to existing water catchment tanks.

2.        Pipe Spring Water to Village - build a small dam at water source above Naigani village and run pipes 1000 meters to village.

3.        Repair Methodist Church - paint walls and floor, replace glass louvres, repair ceiling panels, repair porch roof.

4.        Repair Brackish Well - clean out old surface water well and repair.

5.        Copra Dryer - supply and install new Copra dryer (used in making coconut oil).

6.        Teach Gardening - teach how to plant seeds, composting and any other gardening skills. 

7.        Clear Path - clear a path from Naigani to the Hospital across the island.

8.        Clear Debris - clear away debris from Naigani village and recycle building materials.

9.        Build Temporary Toilets - build 9 toilet facilities using existing septic tanks. 

           

10.    Build Kindergarten - build small Kindy for (8) kids.

11.    Rebuild showers                    

MAKOGAI

S/V ANAHATA: Currently in Port Denarau and headed for Makoagi 25/5/16. David will be rebuilding the toilets here - cleaning them up, installing a shower and basins in preparation for the volunteers.

S/V OUTSIDER: Currently in Port Denarau and departing for Makogai 30/5/16. Ian and Wendy will head up the Makogai School Rebuilding Project that include the following tasks:

1.    Set Up Camp in Makogai for volunteers.

2.    Rebuilding of the School - As the central building for the village, our first goal is to rebuild the school to cyclone resistant safety standards for the protection of the village while installing the guttering and water tanks for drinking water catchment (the children are currently attending school outside under a tarp).

a.    Materials Needed: Lumber, metal roofing, guttering, nails, caulking, concrete, tools, etc.

3.    Rebuilding of their Homes - We will transition the villagers from the temporary tent shelters once each home is rebuilt and/or restored.

a.    Materials Needed: Lumber, metal roofing, guttering, nails, caulking, tools, etc.

4.    Water Catchment & Storage - We will repair and deliver new water storage tanks to the village once the buildings are in place.

a.    Materials Needed: Water tanks, caulking, pipe and guttering

S/V ROCKSTAR: Currently cruising the Yasawas. ETA Makogai unknown. Danny and crew will clearing a track from the dinghy beach to the village and then help with the bathroom renovation.


ADDITIONAL VESSELS

INTERLUDE III: Currently anchored outside Pacific Cove, Taveuni 24/5/16.
Fletcher has made some great contacts while he was in Savusavu.  He has travelled overnight to Taveuni with all of the aid from Savusavu as well as filters for our water makers.  He is in contact with Julie Kelly from Nakia Dive Shop and will be providing assistance to her and her projects in Southern Taveuni.  Fletcher is aiming to be back in Savusavu Friday 27th May.  He will restock his boat and head to Northern Lau to join the fleet there.

S/V KOKAH: Currently in Port Denarau after returning from Naviti Island on 23/5/16.

BEV left Port Denarau on 16/5/16 bound for Kese, Soso and Mua-ira Villages.  She and her crew changed the filters in our water makers and gave them a good clean out. She has left extra filters along with instruction on how to clean the filters. Bev will also be helping in the warehouse when available.

S/V GAMBOL: Currently in Suva. We are waiting for a response to our tasking request.

WAREHOUSE

DENARAU WAREHOUSE: We still have aid in our warehouse.  We also have 5 pallet loads ready to go to Makogai.

I also need help to pack up pallets ready to ship to Savusavu.  I will wait on direction from Jonathan as to what aid is required in Northern Lau.

SAVUSAVU WAREHOUSE: Between Fletcher(Interlude III) & Tony from the Copra Shed, we have managed to find two options to store any items for pick up by our fleet in Savusavu.  I will check them out when in Savusavu on Saturday.

TASKING REQUESTS

We currently have two volunteers here working for NGO Byond.  They have a shipment of school supplies and other aid that they would like to get out to Kubulau, which is on the mainland of Vanua Levu just down from Savusavu.  I believe there are 5 villages in total, all with safe anchorage outside.
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Tracey Collins will be at the Copra Shed at 11am on Saturday to meet with any crew from Sea Mercy vessels.

We are hoping to kick off both projects in the Lomaiviti Group the 1st week of June.  Any volunteers/vessels interested in helping at these islands please let Tracey know:

Phone: +679 7400049,

Email: fijiadmin@seamercy.org or
Email me at coordinator@seamercy.org

Vinaka

Jonathan
Sea Mercy Fleet Coordinator

Supplies and Aid for Being Prepared For the Arrival of the Recovery Fleet

There is a lot of activity at the warehouse these days where volunteers are busy getting supplies organized, loaded and sent out to the islands in preparation for the arrival of the Recovery Fleet from New Zealand.

Four pallets of aid for Vanuabalavu and two pallets of aid for the Lomaiviti Group were loaded and sent to Suva. Vinaka to all of the helpers that made this happen.

Updated List of Items Needed for the Warehouse

The following items are needed for our warehouse in Port Denarau:

Spades
Gardening forks
Seeds
Machetes and files
Fishing nets
Mask and snorkels
Knives, forks and spoons
Plates and cups
Large pots and pans

More On the Warehouse

Based on our experience in Tonga and Vanuatu, Sea Mercy realized that our ability to respond quickly in a disaster was dependent on having supplies stored and ready ahead of time. We chose Port Denarau, Fiji as our base because of it's central location and access to international shipping and air freight. Little did we know that Fiji would be the next to experience a disaster of such huge proportions.

According to our plan, the warehouse in Port Denarau is stocked with donations of household goods, food and equipment. Donations are loaded onto the Sea Mercy volunteer vessels and sent to fill the needs of the people in the remote islands we are tasked with helping. The volunteers at the warehouse have been invaluable in our efforts to get the supplies we need and get them where they need to go. 

Vinaka!!

Sea Mercy Warehouse Volunteers Preparing Aid For Those Affected by the Flooding and TC Zena by Susan Skeggs

Vinaka to everyone who helped with unloading today. My phone died so I don't have final pics of the warehouse crammed full! It was a huge effort to offload 60 feet worth of amazing donations - sooooooo many cans! 

The warehouse will be open tomorrow (Sunday 10th April) from 9am - if you are available to help, we still have loads of school supplies, toys, clothes, medical and building supplies to be decanted and reorganized. Our goal for tomorrow is to be able to back utes in so we can start deploying supplies to flood affected areas ASAP. 

Items Needed for Our Warehouse

Seam Mercy is proactive in their approach to Distaster Relief and is able to respond quickly by having supplies on hand to immediately distribute. We have emptied our warehouse at Port Denarau several times in the wake of Cyclone Winston and are in need of essential supplies for the recovery of the remote islands.

Items Needed for Our Warehouse are : 

Spades
Gardening forks
Seeds
Machetes and files
Fishing nets
Mask and snorkels
Knives, forks and spoons
Plates and cups
Large pots and pans

Vinaka

Amazing Things Can Happen In a Week!! by Susan Skeggs

Amazing what things can happen in a week! One week ago today, Sea Mercy Fiji response was activated. The next day the first of our volunteer vessels had been dispatched.

Since then, Sea Mercy Fiji has received and distributed over $50,000 worth of supplies to remote islands and villages who were badly affected by TC Winston. Sea Mercy has been the first response to Makogai, Batiki, 6 remote villages in Northern Ra and Viwa Island in the Yasawas.

Today, Sea Mercy loaded Reef Endeavour with supplies for Savusavu, Taveuni and Lau.

This gives you an idea of what a little bit of Sea Mercy aid looks like:

2374 kgs of Rice

2744 kgs of Flour

1451 kgs of Breakfast Crackers

338 kgs of Sugar

34 cases of Rolled Oats

366 cases of Split Peas

117 Cases of noodles

226 kgs of Milk Powder

6 kgs Tea

13 Cases of Corned Beef

50 cases of Tinned Fish

538 liters of Oil

800 Pump Torches

44 cases of Candles

262 boxes of Matches

All Sea Mercy missions also took out tarpaulins, rope, water purifying units, basic building materials and medical supplies.

Sea Mercy Loading Supplies for Taveuni by Julie Watson

One white sack has enough food to feed a family of four for one week. One black bag has clothing for one family.   Thank you for all your donations!!

  

The ute is loaded and ready to restock the yacht waiting at Wellington Wharf.

"Zazoo" is loaded with supplies for Taveuni

Good work everyone!!

SEA MERCY UPDATE - 27th FEB by Susan Skeggs

Every time I open Facebook my heart swells with pride and love for the amazing things that people are doing to help other Fijians out.  Vinaka everyone for acting and living the love.

Quick update on what Sea Mercy has been up to yesterday:

Makogai Island – Lomaviti Group:  All the villagers are healthy, safe, well and morale is good given the loss and damage they sustained.  Water is still their biggest challenge.  Sea Mercy has delivered additional hand held water storage containers and has them in building catchment in the hope it will rain soon.  Vessels are making water for the village.

Batiki Island – Lomaviti Group: NDMO tasked Batiki to Sea Mercy because of the narrow channel access which makes it impossible for large vessels to service it.  The Sea Mercy fleet will do a dawn departure from Makogai 23 nm away in hope that the conditions will allow them to drop off of well needed supplies.

Remote villages – Ra District: Following Sea Mercy’s success in accessing remote villages, Commissioner Western asked for our assistance in delivering supplies to four additional villages that are very hard to access.  Within 45 minutes of receiving this request,

SEA MERCY UPDATE: 26th February 2016 from Susan Skeggs

Today Sea Mercy again changed lives!  In conjunction with Rotary, the Red Cross, and representatives from the DO Lautoka,  Sea Mercy were the first outside support to reach Tikina Bureiwai in the Ra District.  They have 150 people in a cluster of 4-5 villages, including a primary and a pre-school.  Nearby is the Tikina Kavula and the Namarai Station that shelters 2 additional villages which were also supplied.   Bureiwai not only had a direct hit by Winston on Saturday but almost immediately also got hit by a 1 ½ m tidal surge through their village sweeping any of their salvageable belongings out to sea. Sea Mercy has been their only avenue of support and we supplied, food, clothing, medication and basic building supplies.  One of our volunteers said “Fijian’s are very resilient, but these people, children and babies were in desperate need of help and so grateful when we finally arrived today”. 

In another feel great story – last night the guests and crew of the Nai’a continued to do their amazing work – after working all they possibly could in the 6.5 hours of light left in the day they were on the island, the Nai’a team went to depart Makogai to rest and recover back to their