NADI, Fiji, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Fiji's Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama announced a comprehensive relief package on Friday to help Fijians recover from the two devastating tropical cyclones that left eight deaths and caused extensive damage.
Announcing the relief package, Bainimarama said that it is estimated around 150,000 Fijians have been impacted by cyclones of Josie and Keni and it is abundantly clear that Fiji needs an immediate program of assistance to help people recover.
He said the package - the Cyclone Assistance Relief Effort for Fiji, or CARE for Fiji, is an unprecedented and wide-reaching program of government assistance that cuts across government ministries and departments.
The prime minister said CARE for Fiji is going to be a big help in getting people back on their feet, but their response and strategy have to be even bigger, because they cannot afford to remain stuck in the same cycle of rebuilding year after year and cyclone after cyclone.
He stressed the importance of full implementation of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
"We need to keep up the pressure and seek full implementation of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change so we can limit the harmful emissions that are causing our climate to change," he said.
"More than that, we need the support, the ideas and the resources of our development partners to continue to adapt our nation to the realities of climate change -- the rising seas, the storms, the rains, the flooding and the changing weather patterns that are causing immense harm in Fiji and all around the world." Enditem