In 2015 a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal, followed by flooding In 2017. The disasters left over 900,000 homes destroyed or severely damaged. Today, hundreds of thousands of families still live without a safe and reliable place to call home.
Each year Fiji braces for cyclone season, which occurs between November to April. Tropical cyclones have the potential to cause mass devastation to families and communities across the Pacific. In 2016, Cyclone Winston damaged or destroyed 30,000 homes in Fiji alone.
Alongside the risk of severe weather, there are a wide range of issues affecting housing quality and disaster resilience in Fiji. These include a lack of skilled carpenters and quality building materials, and the limited reach of government policy and building codes.
Our work is about more than simply rebuilding homes. Habitat also employs researchers to investigate how remote Fijian communities can build safer, more resilient homes using both local knowledge, and innovative new building technologies. Access to low-cost, sustainable building materials and techniques means that families and communities have the resources needed to recover faster after disaster strikes.
The work we do in partnership with Fijian families is critically important, but it is only possible with your support. Please give generously today, so we can continue to build strength, resilience and self-reliance with Fiji.
