As preparations start for the cyclone season in Fiji from next month to April, a call has been made by a person living with a physical disability to ensure that all the relevant agencies have policies and systems in place for the disabled as well.
Naomi Navoce, who is now with the Pacific Disability Forum, said she had experienced great difficulty as a person who is wheelchair bound during the major floods in 2009 in Nadi.
Navoce was working at a hotel in Denarau at the time and was stuck in her house with her 17-year-old niece.
Navoce said they were fortunate that the flood water level did not increase any further as the agency she contacted clearly said to her that they would not be able to evacuate them.
She said she sat in their house and saw many people rushing to the evacuation centre however no one came to their rescue as she was told that they did not know how to handle a person who is physically disabled.
Naomi Navoce said she does not want people to feel sorry for her and she is not complaining about what has happened.
She is only calling on the stakeholders to consider everyone when they prepare for disasters.
Navoce said this can start from the community level where groups can be formed to ensure that people living with disabilities in their area are assisted during disasters.
Fijivillage has received information that a person from the Pacific Disability Forum is now a representative of the National Disaster Management Council.
We have sent questions to the Disaster Management Director Manasa Tagicakibau on their future plans.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
Please take everyone into account – Navoce
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