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=== Common causes of flooding in Fiji ===
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Fiji is located in the south pacific and has a tropical oceanic climate. Its two largest islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, are over 1000 metres above sea level.<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal |last=Yeo |first=Stephen |date=2013 |title="A review of flood resilience in Fiji. In International conference on flood resilience". |journal=Experiences in Asia and Europe, University of Exeter, UK, September |pages=5–7}}</ref> Viti Levu's mountain range creates distinct wet and dry climatic zones on its windward and leeward sides. This geographical topography results in Fiji's rainy season lasting from November to April, with significant variations in rainfall between regions and most of the rainfall occurring in the form of heavy but brief localised showers.<ref name=":2" />
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Tropical cyclones and tropical depressions are the most common cause of severe flooding in Fiji.<ref name=":14" /> Also, rainfall in Fiji is highly variable and the seasonality of rainfall is strongly influenced by the movement of the [[South Pacific convergence zone|South Pacific Convergence Zone]] (SPCZ) can also lead to extreme weather events.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=McAneney |first1=John |last2=van den Honert |first2=Robin |last3=Yeo |first3=Stephen |date=August 2017 |title=Stationarity of major flood frequencies and heights on the Ba River, Fiji, over a 122‐year record |url=https://rmets.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/joc.4989 |journal=International Journal of Climatology |language=en |volume=37 |issue=S1 |pages=171–178 |doi=10.1002/joc.4989 |issn=0899-8418 |s2cid=132350593}}</ref>
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Even in the absence of cyclone activity, parts of Fiji are vulnerable to flood. In January 2009, for example, a sustained monsoon trough triggered a record 5-day rainfall event and the highest flood recorded since 1931.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/169398/ |title=COSTS AND BENEFITS OF ECOSYSTEM-BASED ADAPTATION FOR FLOOD RISK REDUCTION IN FIJI |date=2014 |editor-last=Daigneault |editor-first=Adam J. |series=Paper |editor-last2=Brown |editor-first2=Pike |editor-last3=Gawith |editor-first3=David}}</ref>
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=== Sedimentation ===
Large volumes of [[alluvial sediment]] were displaced and washed downstream and deposited into coastal areas and floodplains.<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU22/EGU22-10910.html |title=Impacts of climate change in Pacific Islands catchments: sediment contribution due to tropical cyclones and depressions |last=Jorquera |first=Eliana |last2=Rodriguez |first2=Jose F. |date=2022-03-25 |publisher=Copernicus Meetings |issue=EGU22-10910 |language=en |last3=Saco |first3=Patricia M. |last4=Verdon-Kidd |first4=Danielle}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Alluvial deposit {{!}} Sediment, Soil & Gravel {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/science/alluvial-deposit |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> The net effect of sedimentation dumping in this manner can reroute the course of rivers, affecting water distribution and the suffocation of aquatic organisms, leaving a negative imprint on the [[
There are environmental issues that are also impacting the geographical landscape of Fiji in the aftermath of flooding events. Changes in the way the land is used, namely deforestation and degradation, and poor waste disposal practices.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Learn the effects of deforestation {{!}} WWF |url=https://www.wwf.org.uk/learn/effects-of/deforestation |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=www.wwf.org.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Singh |first=Shalini |last2=Bhat |first2=Jahangeer A. |last3=Shah |first3=Shipra |last4=Pala |first4=Nazir A. |date=March 2021
=== Deforestation ===
Deforestation also causes soil erosion in forested areas close to water sources.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Indigenous communities protect rainforest in Fiji |url=https://www.myclimate.org/en/get-active/climate-protection-projects/detail-climate-protection-projects/fiji-forest-7217/ |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=www.myclimate.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fahad |date=2022-03-02 |title=How Does Deforestation Lead to Floods and Droughts? |url=https://www.earthreminder.com/how-does-deforestation-lead-to-floods-and-droughts/ |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=Earth Reminder |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Deforestation in Fiji]] continues to increase due to the need for wood for the rebuilding of homes and businesses.Further demands on land usage for cultivating [[Cash crop|commercial crops]] on marginal land, sugarcane and tobacco are good examples, put high demands on the lands resources. The increase of urban developments among the communities also drives deforestation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vizzuality |title=Fiji Deforestation Rates & Statistics {{!}} GFW |url=https://www.globalforestwatch.org/country/FJI/ |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=www.globalforestwatch.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Saving Fiji’s ‘last remaining intact forests’ |url=https://www.monash.edu/business/research/pact/saving-fijis-last-remaining-intact-forests |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=Monash Business School |language=en}}</ref> Cropping on fragile soil without observation of conservation practices and the burning of grasslands further illustrate the effects of deforestion in perpetuating soil erosion and the potential for increased risk of flooding.<ref>{{Citation |last=Neary |first=Daniel George |title=Effects of Fire on Grassland Soils and Water: A Review |date=2020-01-04 |url=https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/70724 |work=Grasses and Grassland Aspects |access-date=2023-12-01 |publisher=IntechOpen |language=en |isbn=978-1-78984-950-9 |last2=Leonard |first2=Jackson McMichael}}</ref>
Large areas of the Fijian coastlands are made more suseptible to erosion by inappropriate disposal of animal waste, pesticides and fertilisers being dumped into international waters by farm run-offs during excessive rainfall.
== Physical impact ==
=== Tourism ===
The demand for luxury coastal accommadation on the western region of the Island, has seen exponential development of hotel resorts and urbanisation of the land to provide retail and entertainment and recreational facilities. Tourism in Fiji brought economic opportunity for business and employment with the addition of tourist expenditure. However the rapid evolution of the natual caostal landscape has established social and environmental changes for the local inhabitants.<ref name=":02">{{Cite journal |last=Xie |first=Philip Feifan |last2=Chandra |first2=Vishal |last3=Gu |first3=Kai |date=2013-01-01 |title=Morphological changes of coastal tourism: A case study of Denarau Island, Fiji |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211973612000669 |journal=Tourism Management Perspectives |volume=5 |pages=75–83 |doi=10.1016/j.tmp.2012.09.002 |issn=2211-9736}}</ref> Hotel workers are commonly found to be the main bread-winners for many familes, however, travel into the resorts from rural areas can reduce overal earnings and therefore the implications for poverty in rural areas is high.[https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212420914000727] Over-development threatens the lives, livehoods and homes oflocal people due to largescale erosion and sediment displacement, increasing floods in the lowlands and coastal areas.
== Health impacts ==
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Fiji has a well established disaster management structure.<ref>Fiji Disaster Management Reference Handbook - March 2023 - page 32
</ref> In January 2012, the National Disaster Management office (NDM) activated the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) who thereafter led the disaster response. The NEOC were guided by an "operations order" (endorsed by the National Disaster Council (NCD)).<ref name=":7" /> which focused on critical elements including speed of response, effective communication and flexibility. On the NCD's advice on 25 January, the Fijian Cabinet declared a “State of Natural Disaster for part of the Western Division” for 15 days - later extended for another 10 days on 8 February.
District Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) played a key role in providing on the ground support in areas of most need. The response faced challenges in common with other events in the region e.g. lack of flood warning, lack of communication channels and difficulty accessing data<ref name=":15">{{Cite web |date=2012-07-26 |title=Humanitarian Bulletin Pacific Issue 01 Quarter 2, 2012 - Fiji {{!}} ReliefWeb |url=https://reliefweb.int/map/fiji/humanitarian-bulletin-pacific-issue-01-quarter-2-2012 |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=reliefweb.int |language=en}}</ref> which can make it difficult to assess damage and focus resources. There remains an opportunity to increase resilience to floods and other natural disasters in the region.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Community Responses to Floods in Fiji: Lessons Learned |url=https://www.mei.edu/publications/community-responses-floods-fiji-lessons-learned |access-date=2023-11-30 |website=Middle East Institute |language=en}}</ref>
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To support those who were displaced, ECs were set up in priority locations. Community facilities were utilized,e.g schools and churches. Over the period of the floods a total of 74 ECs were opened supporting over 4500 evacuees.<ref name=":12" /> These centres became critical hubs for the provision of essential supplies, shelter, and also for the dissemination of educational information to manage risks.<ref name=":10" /> Challenges included potential disruption to education when schools were used as ECs<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Onigbinde |first=Lois |date=2018-05-18 |title=The Impacts of Natural Disasters on Educational Attainment: Cross-Country Evidence from Macro Data |url=https://repository.usfca.edu/thes/1078 |journal=Master's Theses}}</ref> as well as lack of sanitation and water supplies into the centres.<ref name=":15" />
=== The Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Appeal – launched January 26, 2012 ===
On 26 January, then Prime Minister [[Frank Bainimarama]] launched his "Flood Relief Appeal".<ref name=":12" /> Administered by the [https://www.bsp.com.fj/ BSP Financial Group Limited,] the Fund facilitated donations from both domestic and international branches. The Prime Minister made a public appeal encouraging multi sectoral support. By early March 2012, it was estimated that the Fund stood at nearly FJ$2million.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-03-07 |title=PM’s relief fund stands at $1.9million - Fiji {{!}} ReliefWeb |url=https://reliefweb.int/report/fiji/pm%E2%80%99s-relief-fund-stands-19million |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=reliefweb.int |language=en}}</ref>
During and after the floods, Fiji was supported by a range of stakeholders, e.g national governments, private business, religious groups and volunteer organizations. Notable support came from the Australian government who supported the region during and for some time after the event to the value of almost FJ$1.8 m <ref>{{Cite web |title=Australia helps Fiji rebuild after devastating floods |url=https://www.dfat.gov.au/news/news/Pages/australia-helps-fiji-rebuild-after-devastating-floods}}</ref> Organizations provided both financial support and essentials supplies, with many donors filtering their contributions via the Fijian [[Fiji Red Cross Society|Red Cross.]]
=== The role of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Cross Societies (IFRC) ===
The [[International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies|IFRC]] and local [[Fiji Red Cross Society|Red Cross]] were critical in disaster response receiving dynamic updates from the NDMO .<ref name=":10">Information Bulletin: Fiji Floods (IFRC) 17th February 2012</ref> Their activity covered risk and damage assessment, provision of essentials supplies as well as medical support for minor injuries. The Red Cross had prepositioned emergency supplies and worked to get these to priority locations.<ref name=":7" />
[[File:Fiji_Red_Cross,_Fiji_(10695132256).jpg|thumb|January 2012 relief efforts - Fiji Red Cross]]
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