Defining Resilience: A Fijian Village’s Path to Preparedness

"I remember one hurricane when I was a child. It took the roof off our family house, and my older brother had to carry me to the church for safety. Everyone from the village was inside the church. It was a dangerous time, with tin and timber flying everywhere," recalled Epeli Turava, head of Yavusania Village’s Community-Based Disaster Committee (CBDC), who has faced many disasters first-hand. 

Yavusania Village – located along the Nadi River and the western coast of Fiji’s main island, Viti Levu – echoes stories of survival and resilience. For generations, villagers have lived with the challenges of storms and flooding. 

To tackle these challenges, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) introduced the “Strengthening National and Community Resilience to Disaster and Displacement Risks” project, funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). The project has retrofitted and built multi-purpose evacuation centres across vulnerable hotspots in Fiji, which serve not only as safe havens in emergencies but also as places where communities can connect.  

However, for Yavusania and its neighboring villages, the new evacuation centres are only the beginning. Beyond physical shelters, building true resilience requires preparation, knowledge and collective effort. To foster this, IOM launched a Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) training programme in Yavusania, setting a model for other communities to follow. This programme offers practical skills and starter kits, empowering villagers to create their own response plans and face crises with confidence. 

Born and raised in Yavusania, Epeli carries on the legacy of his father and great-grandfather, protecting his community as the head of the disaster committee. Over the years, he has witnessed hurricanes and floods that have permanently damaged the village and its people. 

“Yavusania is the first in all of Nadi Province to get flooded,” he said. “In the 2012 flood, which was three metres high, we used ropes to help each other reach safety, as many homes were submerged. I also remember Cyclone Kina in 1992, when we covered windows with tin to protect ourselves. Cyclone Winston, a Category 5 cyclone in 2016, caused widespread destruction, burying crops in sand and disrupting our food supplies.” 

After completing the CBDRM training, Epeli has learned how to better cooperate with community members using the evacuation centre. "This training is a big learning experience for me. In the past, during floods, we would just help each other without a clear process. Now, I’ve learned step-by-step procedures for handling disasters. As the head of the CBDC, this training has taught me a lot about disaster preparedness. We’re learning to make plans and how to coordinate with committee members before and during disasters." 

For the challenges of approaching cyclones, Epeli emphasized the importance of community involvement, using knowledge gained from the training. 

Preparing for a cyclone takes a village, quite literally. He explained, “It’s a big challenge. We call on our youth – even those who might be busy with rugby – to check each house, making sure families are prepared to evacuate. When floods hit, we’re often without power or water for days. We stock up on dried food, canned goods and batteries to make sure we’re ready. It’s not easy, but it’s necessary.” 

Loraine Nailevu, a female committee member who joined Yavusania in 1998, also shared her experiences. “I didn’t know that this village was the first to be flooded in all of Nadi because it’s the last village before the sea," she said. "In the interior of Nadi, everyone knows this village as the first one to flood. That’s the history of this village.” She then recalled how the major floods of 2012 impacted her deeply, as they were more severe than ever.

Loraine added that Yavusania faced a challenging situation in 1998 due to the lack of designated evacuation centres. Back then, the church was the community’s only refuge, bringing everyone together under one roof for safety. Loraine's own home also served as an unofficial evacuation centre because of its higher elevation. Food distribution was a persistent challenge.  

“The assistance was often delayed, coming one or two weeks after the flood, so we had to manage as best as we could. We didn’t rely too much on assistance. We tried to keep whatever food we had, like breadfruit and raw papaya for curry,” she said. 

Loraine highlighted that disasters posed even greater challenges for women. In addition to caring for their children, they had to manage tasks like dressing them, cooking meals and keeping their living spaces clean to prevent illness. Ensuring the safety of children from accidents became a top priority for women, especially as floods led to closed roads and hazardous conditions. 

“It’s very challenging to keep them safe, but the most important thing is ensuring the safety of kids, pregnant mothers and people with disabilities. We need to find ways to apply what we learned in the training, such as preparing a safe place for them, providing food and maintaining a clean environment," she explained. "I’m also part of the committee set up for this purpose. Being part of the committee means we have the responsibility to help our community.”

Loraine shared that the CBDRM training has become an invaluable guide for disaster preparedness. “I feel fortunate to be part of the training because I’ve learned many things about preparing myself, my family and my community. As a village community health worker, I’ve learned how to manage and take care of the elderly, sick people, people with disabilities and those who really need help, prioritizing the most vulnerable groups.” 

In this way, CBDRM has become a driving force for building resilience in Yavusania. As the community braces for the upcoming cyclone season, IOM Fiji remains committed to protecting both current and future generations.