The River
Yavusania Village in the western part of Fiji is located next to the Nadi River, which, due to large construction projects, has had its course altered around the village. As climate change brings more rainfall, more hurricanes, and generally more extreme weather, the river is eroding more and more of the land around it. According to the residents, the river widens by 10-15 meters every year.
The Nadi River has already swallowed several houses in the village and forced the residents to build new homes on stilts. During the so-called king tides - extremely high tides - the river overflows its banks and floods the village to such an extent that the inhabitants have to travel between the houses in motorboats.
This story was made in collaboration with Unicef Pacific.
Kaminieli Sudrugu, 84 years old.
In 2021, Kaminieli lost his house. The Nadi River had eroded so close to the house that the ground underneath it gave way, taking half of the house with it - both the bathroom and the kitchen.
“We managed to save some of the building materials, but my land is gone. The soil that I have owned and farmed for almost my entire life has been swallowed by the river. So I don’t know where I’m going to rebuild my house. And I can’t afford to buy new land.”
Kara, 7 years old, is Kaminieli’s grandniece.
She was inside the house when it was swept away by the river. Fortunately, the villagers quickly came to Kara and Kaminieli’s rescue and managed to save them both before the house was carried away by the water.
According to UNICEF, 1 billion children worldwide are extremely vulnerable due to the climate crisis.
Published by Unicef Pacific