For decades, the villagers of Rokovuaka Village in Nalawa, Ra lived with the constant fear of cyclones and flooding, disasters that threatened their safety and disrupted their way of life.
With no proper evacuation centre, families often took shelter in the village church or remained in their homes, risking their lives in the absence of safer alternatives.
This reality changed today after the commissioning of their very-own multipurpose evacuation centre by the Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Hon. Sakiasi Ditoka.
This purpose-built, safe and secure facility will now serve as a refuge for villagers during times of disaster.
Constructed at a cost of around $1.2million, the centre was completed with funding from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and implemented through the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in coordination with the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management’s National Disaster Risk Management Office (NDRMO).
KOICA’s generous funding made the construction of the centre possible, while IOM managed the implementation, working closely with the community to ensure the design met both technical and local needs. Save the Children Fiji provided crucial training on how the centre should be managed and maintained, with a focus on building local ownership and knowledge.
Designed to withstand severe weather, the evacuation centre will serve a dual purpose. During non-disaster periods, the facility will be used for community events and income-generating activities, particularly for women. This includes space for catering, small business operations, skills training and group meetings, supporting both economic empowerment and social development.
“As we all know, Fiji continues to face increasing risks from tropical cyclones, flooding, sea-level rise, and displacement. In this reality, evacuation centers are no longer a luxury, they are a necessity. They provide shelter during emergencies, save lives, and serve as coordination hubs during disaster response. But equally important is what happens after the disaster when the need for community rebuilding and resilience becomes even more urgent,” said Minister Ditoka.
“By commissioning this center today, we are affirming that building resilience means more than just preparing for the worst. It also means creating opportunities, deepening local capacity, and ensuring that development is inclusive and sustainable. We must continue to push for solutions that serve both immediate needs and long-term goals, and this facility does just that.”
“This is your centre. Protect it, use it well, and let it stand as a symbol of your strength and resilience. This is how we build safer, stronger communities—one project, one partnership, and one village at a time,” he added.
Rokovuaka Village headman Mr. Keasi Sarube said the completion of the new facility marked the beginning of a new dawn for the villagers of Rokovuaka.
“Our families used to crowd into the village church or remain in our homes when cyclones struck or when the river flooded. Sometimes, we even had to flee to the nearby hills for safety. But that will no longer be the case. With this new evacuation centre, the people of Rokovuaka, especially our women, children, elderly, and persons with disabilities now have a safe and secure place to shelter during times of disaster,” said Mr Sarube.