On 17 December, Category 5 severe Cyclone Yasa barrelled into Fiji causing catastrophic damage and destruction. Most damage was caused on Fiji’s second-largest island of Vanua Levu.

Essential services and critical infrastructure continue to be restored in the Northern Division of Fiji and the coordination of humanitarian assistance continues for cyclone-affected communities. Managed by Fiji’s National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), the inter-sector response is transitioning into the early recovery phase.

All evacuation centres have now closed following the focus by Fijian authorities on ensuring all those remaining in evacuation centres were able to return home.

The ETC continues to support the response to Cyclone Yasa from Suva, Fiji, by working with regional partners and authorities to fully restore communications services across northern Fiji.

ETC activities were supported by satellite equipment and bandwidth received from Inmarsat as part of the activation of the Crisis Connectivity Charter (CCC) on 17 December. The CCC is now being deactivated in response to Cyclone Yasa.