Biara Touakin reporting direct from Rabi, Fiji

Kam na mauri ara koraki,

Bon te kamauri mai Rambi imwiin te ang are e ururu iaon abara aio.

I taku ba kama bon tia n nori tamnei man ongo rongorongo ibukin abara aio mwiin ana ururu te ang TC Tomas n te Moanibong ao te Kauabong 15th ao 16th n te namakaina aei.

E bon rangin korakora aron ana ururu nakon taian auti ao riki nakon taian kaina-n-amarake n aron te nii, te mai, te tabioka ao a maiti riki. Ikai naba…

Banaba's Rays of Hope at a time when our people on Rabi need it most. The rehabilitation of Banaba, the homeland will be an important focus for the Banaban people in the years to come.

These beautiful photographs of Banaba were taken by John Sutton from UK when he met up…

I would like to encourage all our BV members wherever you may reside to please forward the Chairman's Plea to all your friends, family and especially organizations etc you may be involved with.

The direct link to the Chairman's letter is: http://banabanvoice.ning.com/profiles/blogs/plea-from-rabi-chairman-to

We need to support our Chairman NOW and use the power of the internet to spread his message…

Bauro Vaunalailai, Chairman Rabi Council of Leaders, 24 March 2010

ANOTHER EMERGENCY AID SHIPMENT PLANNED FOR FRIDAY 26 MARCH LEAVING SUVA

The Chairman has advised this morning that they have arranged an Aid Shipment to be dispatch from Suva this Friday aboard the ‘Silivan’ bound for Savusavu. They are hoping the shipment will land on Rabi over this weekend for distribution.

Please have ALL…

BANABANS BE AT SAVUSAVU PM TODAY OR ***BEFORE 10AM*** TOMORROW FOR AID SHIPMENT TO RABI

I just had a phone call from Ken Rabi (4am here Aust) as Biniati has been able to book a a car at Savusavu which is coming out to Karoko now. He said they have just opened the road and they plan to meet the car at Koroko at 11am. They expect to arrive Savusavu late this afternoon.

I have gathered together $3,000 in overseas donations from this end and Biniati will buy…

Ken has just made contact with me now and was standing outside our home in Stream Valley Rabi with his brother Biniati and family. All our family is OK and our houses, one of which was only completed the day before the cylone hit has made it. All Biniati efforts with sandbagging the houses and wiring down the roofs with branches and logs has paid off. Ken reports that Rabi is in a very bad way confirming what our Chairman has already told us. He is attending a village meeting this afternoon…

Our RCL Chairman will have Banaban House Suva opened as soon as possible for planned emergency meeting there at 2pm Suva time. All Banabans living in Fiji should try and rally there to offer assistance, food, clothing, etc. and to assist your councillors. Please contact your local churches for assistance and other NGOs, Red Cross to rally support.

RCL OFFICE:

(P) 0011 679 3303653

(F) 0011 679 3300543

***** NOW GO TO NEW UPDATED CONTACT INFORMATION FOR RABI…

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Through the cloud cover, damaged houses. [Fiji One]

Campbell Cooney, Liv casben Last Updated: 17 hours 32 minutes ago

The death toll from a cyclone that hit Fiji has risen to three after emergency…

Thursday, March 18, 2010

A RELIEF run to hurricane-struck areas in the Northern Division is being organised by a cruise ship company that has close ties to the area.

Morika Hunter-Young, of the tourist vessel Tui Tai, said the company's charitable arm was organising relief supplies to be shipped to Rabi and Kioa islands, and Natewa Bay and Udu Point on Vanua Levu.

"We cruise that area every day and they are everything about…

Article published the Friday 19 March 2010 - Latest update : Friday 19 March 2010

New Zealand air force air craft distribute aid

Reuters

Friday, March 19, 2010

+ Enlarge this image

Children of Wainigadru, in Tawake, Cakaudrove stand outside what's left of their house

THE eastern part of Vanua Levu is by far the worst hit by Hurricane Tomas.

A flight over the…

Villagers on the cyclone-battered Fijian island of Koro had their chainsaws, shovels and assorted tools out today clearing roads, rebuilding homes and dealing with damage from winds which gusted to 240kmh.

Koro, to the northeast of the main island of Viti Levu, was badly damaged by Cyclone Tomas in the last two days, with many homes among the island's 14 villages badly damaged or destroyed.

Fijians hunkered down during cyclone…

Updated March 17, 2010 17:26:28

In Fiji disaster management teams are on their way to the northern and eastern islands, as Cyclone Tomas moves out of the area. It's suspected the Lau group of islands is worst hit, but the massive category four storm has…