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http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=136471

 

Mick affects 49,376 people 

GERALDINE PANAPASA 
Friday, January 01, 2010 

CYCLONE Mick cost the country $20million in damage and affected about 
49,376 people in the Central, Western, Eastern and Northern divisions. 

This has been revealed in a damage assessment preliminary report by the 
National Disaster Management Office. 

National Disaster Office acting director Pajiliai Dobui said the figure included cost 
of houses destroyed and damaged, agriculture, livestock, roads, water and 
schools. 

"About 60 tarpaulins were distributed to the provincial administrator Serua and 
provincial administrator Namosi," he said. 

"These tarpaulins are temporary shelters for families who had their homes 
destroyed or damaged during the cyclone. 

"This cyclone was not a strong one and only a few families had their homes 
completely destroyed. 

"Most of the tarpaulins were distributed to assist families who can do small 
repairs on their homes." 

He said the Government would look into the issue of providing houses or shelter 
for families whose property was completely destroyed. 

Of the 60 tarpaulins, 30 would be distributed to Beqa based on the initial damage 
assessment need. 

The tarpaulin distribution is part of 500 tarpaulins donated by the New Zealand 
Government. 

The damage assessment summary shows more than 43,000 people were 
affected in the Western Division with 1041 houses damaged and valued at $6500 
each. 

About $57,550 in livestock was damaged while the estimated cost of damaged 
roads in the Western Division is $555,000. 

Another $160,065 in damage was noted for 24 schools affected by the cyclone. 

 

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Despite minimal damage in the Northern Division, 10 per cent of the agriculture 
sector in the division suffered about $567,200 in damage. 

In the Central Division, about 6051 people were affected with four houses 
completely destroyed and estimated to cost $16,000 each. 

Another 170 homes were damaged in the Central Division. 

In the Eastern Division, 226 people were affected with five homes destroyed and 
15 damaged.