Last Thursday night, our brothers and sisters in Fiji bore the brunt of yet another devastating weather event, not seven months since Cyclone Harold hit. This latest event, Tropical Cyclone Yasa, has devastated in particular the island of Vanua Levu, causing significant damage to buildings, crops and livelihoods. The government of Fiji has declared a state of emergency for 30 days.

Given the damage caused by Cyclone Harold and the huge loss of incomes due to the cessation of the tourist economy during Covid-19, this disaster is another cruel blow to communities which are already so vulnerable.

Our friends at Anglican Missions have got straight onto doing what they do best, and have organised a campaign to support recovery work. You can find more information about the Tropical Cyclone Yasa appeal, and how to donate, here: https://angmissions.org.nz/news/tropical-cyclone-yasa--emergency-appeal.

We encourage you to give generously, to share this need widely with friends and family, and to pray deeply for individuals and families affected at what should be a joyful time of year.

Earlier this month, many in our Diocese took part in the Big Hearts campaign to increase overseas aid, including in the Pacific. It is deeply saddening that already we have another reason to continue the hard work of encouraging our government to ensure there is sufficient aid for vulnerable communities and for climate action, and encourage you also to consider supporting this campaign as it moves forward into 2021.