Construction has officially begun to relocate Narata village in Nadroga to a safer site, offering critical relief to residents who have faced years of flooding and erosion. This initiative, led by the Global Centre for Climate Mobility in collaboration with the government, aims to move homes away from a river that poses continuous threats to the community’s land and livelihoods.
Minister for Climate Change Lynda Tabuya shared her excitement for the project, highlighting that Narata is one of three communities that will benefit from this climate resilience endeavor. She underscored the necessity of securing funding for such initiatives, stating, “Very exciting times as we start to shorten the time for climate finance to reach our people.” The minister pointed to her international engagements as essential to accessing the climate financial resources required for these projects.
For many residents, like Jiuta Navukula, this relocation is a long-awaited resolution to ongoing dangers. Navukula shared his experiences of living in the shadow of encroaching erosion, remarking, “As of last year, the erosion had reached close to our front door. It’s very difficult to sleep at night, especially when it rains. I am usually the one to alert the village to move to higher ground when the water level rises.”
The community’s success in securing assistance came after years of outreach and partnership with various organizations. “We’ve had many organisations come here to survey the area, and we’ve spoken to several NGOs, but we feel truly blessed that we are now getting the help we need,” Navukula expressed.
The $220,000 project is part of a broader climate resilience initiative that has already been implemented in Macuata-i-Wai, with Vuniniudrovu set to be the next community to benefit. This proactive approach marks a significant milestone for the residents of Narata and highlights the potential for other communities facing similar climate-related challenges to identify innovative solutions through collaboration and funding strategies.