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Source: ONE News -
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There is concern in Fiji about the outbreak of disease in the country's evacuation centres.
Cyclone Tomas, which has now been downgraded to a storm, has killed at least one person, left more than 18,000 homeless, damaged hospitals and other vital services and knocked out communications.
UNICEF Pacific spokesman Tim Sutton says there has been an outbreak of typhoid in Fiji over the past month.
He says they are working hard to make sure the evacuation centres have adequate sanitation and water supplies.
UNICEF has dispatced some 100,000 oral dehydration salts and 300,000 water purification tablets as well as containers, tarpaulins and tents ready for dispatch, to those in need.
Meanwhile, three Fijian naval vessels have been deployed to the country's outer islands, loaded with food, water, tents and tarpaulins.
Two more government vessels are due to head to the Lau and Lomaiviti groups on Friday, and will also carry planting material from the Ministry of Agriculture.
Aid agencies are also trying to coordinate with the government how best to distribute supplies to where they are needed.
Interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama says apart from providing emergency supplies, the government's main focus is on rehabilitating damaged medical centres and schools
He says large tents are being provided as makeshift accommodation for those centres.
Bainimarama said the islands worst hit by cyclone tomas will remain national disaster areas for the next month.
International aid experts say they are impressed with the way Fijian authorities have responded to the cyclone.
But Sutton says the most complicated part of the process lies ahead.
He says while all the islands which had been cut off have now made contact, aid groups are still largely working with the unknown.
