A New Era of Resilience for the People of Maumi

The colours of the traditional sulu jaba dresses and Bula shirts adorned by the excited villagers, shed a vibrant aura in the afternoon sun at Maumi Village in Tailevu, located about an hour’s drive from Fiji’s capital Suva. Today, decades of aspirations start to take shape.  

Children scurry about, tidying up the surroundings, while the women prepare the afternoon delicacy in anticipation of the chief guest’s arrival for groundbreaking ceremony for a new multipurpose evacuation centre.  

Atop the hill, where the new multipurpose evacuation center is being built, stood Karai Vuibau, at 86 years old, still strong and proud as ever. He watched with a close eye.  

Mr. Vuibau hails from a chiefly clan bestowed as guardians of the land and its people of Maumi. He is the Chief and speaks with deep reverence for their history. His voice, filled with the wisdom of generations, carries across.  

 “Oh, I haven’t seen any written evidence of how long we have been here, but for me and my people, it is from the beginning of time. Traditionally, we were said to come from Waimaro. Came down the river, and we arrived here hundreds of years ago. That’s how the traditional story goes, passed down through generations.” 

Through floods and cyclones, the village has endured hardships.   

“I have seen my villagers struggle. Their homes and plantations damaged. That is the real hardship for us, losing our plantations and vital food and water sources. Without a secure place to store our rations, survival becomes even more difficult. But now we will have a safe and dry place to store our food rations and have water tanks for clean drinking water.” 

One of their greatest concerns is the threat of landslides due to heavy rainfall. “Our village is in a hilly place, and when there is heavy rain or adverse weather, the real danger is the landslides. It damages homes and root crops. It is a threat we always worry about.” 

Relief, however, is finally in sight. The multi-purpose evacuation centre, long dreamt of by generations, is now becoming a reality.  

“Oh man! I cannot give enough gratitude to IOM and KOICA for providing us with the funds. This building has been the dream of my forefathers, grandfathers, father, uncles, and brothers for decades. Previous governments had agreed to build it, but then when we get hit by a cyclone, the resources are diverted. So the evacuation center never got built. Now, I can rest easy knowing that my people will be safe, have a secure shelter, safe drinking water, medical supplies, and food in times of crisis.” 

Vani Waimoce Kamikamica, a grandmother and lifelong resident of Maumi,  smiles as she reflects on the struggles of the past. “We, as a people, have endured a lot of challenges mainly cyclones, landslides, and flooding. We have a committee of youths in the village who assist the elderly and vulnerable during disasters, but they had nowhere safe to go. As grandmothers, we have been waiting for this day for a long, long time. Now, in an emergency, we will all be safe.” 

For the women of Maumi, the centre means more than just safety. It symbolizes progress and opportunity. “With the multi-purpose evacuation center, in case of an emergency, we can collectively look after our elderly, the sick, pregnant mothers, and other vulnerable people in the community. We will be able to cook and feed everyone. We women are also excited because we now have a place to hold our women’s group meetings, conduct workshops, and provide training for the women, girls, and youth in the village” says.

The groundbreaking ceremony was officiated by Sakiasi Ditoka, Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, as the villagers came together to celebrate the long-awaited development. “This is possible through the long-standing relationship between IOM and the Government of Fiji. We recently held the groundbreaking ceremony in Rokovuaka, in the province of Ra,and opened the refurbished multipurpose evacuation center in Yav usania, in Nadi. This is a significant contribution toward safeguarding the lives of vulnerable communities in Fiji.” 

He emphasizes the importance of maintaining the centre and ensuring that the village takes ownership of it. “These centres rebuilt through community consultation and engagement. It is for the people. Without the blessings of the village and the elders, nothing would be possible.” 

IOM Fiji Humanitarian Program Manager Matthew Bidder has expressed gratitude to the Minister and the villagers for their warm hospitality. He outlines IOM’s approach which is going beyond just building an evacuation center, but also building a resilient community. 

“This has been a few years in the making. The International Organization for Migration has partnered with the Disaster Risk Management Office and Save the Children, with funding support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), to strengthen national and community resilience to disasters across the region. Maumi village was identified as a high-priority location due to its need for a multipurpose community evacuation center and its strong community spirit and resilience.” 

Through a collaborative assessment process, Maumi was selected as the ideal site to build a fully equipped multipurpose evacuation center. “The construction of an evacuation center is just one first step. Through our partners, we are investing in early warning systems, community-based disaster risk management plans, and community ownership through entrepreneurship and skills training. Maumi will serve as a stellar example of resilience in Fiji, particularly within the Central Division.” 

As the celebrations continue, there is a renewed sense of hope and unity in Maumi. After four decades of waiting, the community can finally see the fruits of its patience and perseverance.  

This is not just a building.