The first ever database to help with the evacuation of Persons Living with Disabilities during a disaster has been given to the Fiji Red Cross Society.

Disaster Management Coordinator for Fiji Red Cross, Eseroma Ledua said the database provided by the Pacific Disability Forum contains the names of 1,746 persons living with disabilities around the country.

Ledua said with the Cyclone season here this database means a lot in terms of helping those who often need assistance when evacuating.

The database contains the different types of disability a person has from physical to hearing impairments and also their home addresses.

Ledua said as part of helping those with disability evacuate without any difficulty, equipments are also being stored in Fiji Red Cross Containers around the country.

Training is also being provided he said for Fiji Red Cross staff as it can be quite challenging to evacuate someone with disabilities if one does not have the right skills.

Meanwhile the database is expected to increase as the Pacific Disability Forum continues to access other areas of Vanua Levu and the Lomaiviti Group.


Story by: Gwen Mc Goon