Cyclone Tomas

This is an official record of the devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone (Hurricane) Tomas when it struck Rabi Island. This record documents daily reports from Rabi Council of Leaders, Banaban community, press releases, news stories, photographs and videos. This record begins with the plea received by Rabi Council of Leaders Chairman, Dr Paulo (Bauro) Vanualailai as he reached Suva 5 days after Tomas struck the Island. With all communication wiped out he had to leave Rabi to seek help and get information out to the broader community regarding the crisis the island was facing and to mobilize the community and friends aboard into action.

URGENT CALL TO ALL BANABANS FROM CHAIRMAN - OUR PEOPLE ON RABI ARE DESPARATE FOR HELP AND FOOD!

March 20, 2010 at 9:30am

I have just arrived to Suva. Yes Rabi is devasted, 100% agriculture, all the foodcrops and fruittrees have gone. It will take just another day or two, people will starve if no food arrives on the island. One person confirmed dead. 10 or more house have gone in Tabwewa area including Nuku, Farm, Stream Valley and Fatima. Uma Village about all the extensions are gone, seven houses are damaged with two completed gone. Tabiang and buakonikai have suffered the most, I have yet to get the real data but the statistics will get high once assessment is done.

The Rabi Council of Leaders (RCL) have held an emergency meeting in Rabi on Wednesday, it has formed its own DISMAC team consisting of village councillors with village committees, detailed assessment will reach my table on monday, thus my presentation to the PM's office and to the rest of the funding assistance will take place. Communication is all damaged, it will take more than 5-7days for this, but by that time, food will be sarce. Water shortage due to damages has been fixed temporarily with RCL workers, but will need a major overhaul of the piping systems for each homes. Toilet shelters have all gone. I am afraid of outbreak in epidemic since the hospital has exhausted most of its medicinal stock etc. I appeal to all our banaban people and to all of our friends around the Pacific and the globe, please come to our aid, we desperately need your help.

God bless the Banabans

Dr.Bauro Vanualailai Chairman of RCL