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Archive -Seychelles

In the aftermath of cycle Fantala: |30 April 2016

IDC board agrees on course ofaction to rebuild Farquhar

 

The board of directors of the Islands Development Company has agreed on a course of action for the rebuilding and rehabilitation of the island of Farquhar which has been devastated by tropical cyclone Fantala.

The decision was taken during an extraordinary board meeting this week to discuss the damages caused by the cyclone which hit the island three times.

The measures include:

  1. 1.       appointing an independent structural engineer and quantity surveyor to assess the structural soundness and cost the damages to buildings and other infrastructures;
  2. 2.       submitting and following up on insurance claim;
  3. 3.       working closely with representatives from the World Bank on the assessment of the ecological damages and cost of rehabilitation programme for the island;
  4. 4.       sending a team of workers to temporarily fix the least damaged buildings to accommodate all technical and construction teams to be involved with the rebuilding works; and
  5. 5.       any new buildings and structures shall be constructed to better withstand such tropical storms given the predicted trends and changes in our climate. This had already started following cyclone Bondo in 2006.

A communiqué from the Islands Development Company (IDC) writes that the board expects to restore the infrastructures and resume some of the island’s economic activities within the next eight months subject to early submissions of the assessment reports.

It adds that the financial losses of IDC, including loss of revenue generated from the economic activities on Farquhar are expected to be quite substantial and the revegetation of the island is also expected to be a long and arduous task.

Meanwhile, the board of directors of IDC has expressed heartfelt thanks to all parties who have extended a helping hand for the rebuilding and rehabilitation of Farquhar following this disaster especially the World Bank, UNDP and OCHA respectively for their financial support.

The board will meet once the assessment reports have been submitted to finalise the roadmap for the ecological restoration and resumption of economic life on the island.

Still according to the communiqué, all partners operating certain facilities on the island have been informed of damages to their respective facilities and each party is doing the necessary for the restoration of its activities.

A small team from IDC is currently on the island to secure whatever could be salvaged, ensure the safety of the airfield for the arrival of the assessment teams and to ensure temporary access to electricity and water for the visits of these assessors on the island.

The board has also expressed its gratitude to the team of 12 workers who remained to safeguard the island during the cyclone. Their act of courage is commendable added the communiqué.

 

 

 

 

 

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