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New Zealand says it will give a further $500,000 in aid for people affected by floods in Fiji - but the money will go directly to organisations such as Red Cross helping communities hit by flooding in Fiji.
Foreign Minister Murray McCully announced the funding boost today, in the wake of an announcement today by the Australian Government that it is lifting its aid package to A$3 million ($3.75 million).
New Zealand initially contributed $100,000 on Monday, which Mr McCully said enabled the Fiji Red Cross to replenish its emergency stocks and to continue relief efforts this week during a second bout of heavy rain and flooding.
"Latest reports from Fiji indicate the flooding is subsiding, but over 10,500 people remain in evacuation centres, and 11 deaths have now been confirmed," Mr McCully said in a statement.
More than 300 businesses have been destroyed in the tourist town of Nadi alone and cane sugar crops, which earn Fiji $300 million annually, have been severely damaged.
Though the floodwaters are going down, thousands of people are at risk of respiratory illnesses, malaria and dengue fever. Eighty-five people, including six babies, are already sick with diarrhoea and respiratory illnesses at one emergency shelter.
"The people of Fiji are in need of assistance from the international community," Mr McCully said.
But commentators have noted that most of the Government's aid has, pointedly, not been given as a cash handout direct to the coup leaders, but is either going to non-government agencies or being filtered through NZ diplomats in Suva.
Other foreign governments have also channelled aid to the Red Cross Society, which today confirmed that it is not providing food rations unless a national disaster is declared.
Of New Zealand funds announced today, $300,000 - half the total amount so far given - will be used to supply items identified as urgently needed by Fiji's disaster management committee.
These include water tanks and containers, water purification tablets, and rehydration salts which will be provided by the Government's own agency, NZAid, or international agencies such at the United Nations.
"Up to a further $200,000 will be available for organisations with an established presence in affected areas, subject to a proposal process run through the New Zealand High Commission in Suva," Mr McCully said.
The interim government has estimated damage of about $32 million, although there are fears that could rise to more than $100 million, and Cdre Bainimarama earlier this week called on Australia and New Zealand to provide more assistance.
And his attorney-general, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, was critical of the two countries' initial contributions.
"Tonga has given us $F100,000, New Zealand has given us $F85,000. If you compare Tonga's GDP and the population of New Zealand, it's quite a stark difference," he told the ABC. "Australia has given $F150,000 ... so Tonga has been very generous, comparatively."
But the country's former leader Laisenia Qarase - ousted over two years ago in Cdre Bainimarama's bloodless coup - said the coup administration only had themselves to blame.
Both Australia and New Zealand have been at odds with Fiji over its delays on democratic elections, and New Zealand's acting High Commissioner was expelled from Suva just before Christmas.
"Unless we get a democratically elected government, we can't expect to be receiving much aid," Mr Qarase told AAP.
Mr McCully said the extent of the damage to infrastructure, businesses and crops meant that as more detailed assessments come in from Fiji, New Zealand will consider further requests for assistance.
Australia's new pledge of A$3 million includes the A$150,00 it gave to the Fiji Red Cross on Tuesday. A further A$850,000 will be given to Fiji to boost aid programmes and supply food, water, sanitation and transport.
The remaining A$2 million will be made available for recovery and reconstruction programmes and a judgment would be made as to whether further funds were required, the Australian Government said.
- NZPA
