SUVA, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- As the year 2016 draws to its end, thousands of Fijians are still dealing with the aftermath of the strongest tropical cyclone ever in its history that caused deaths and destruction to the tiny Pacific island country when the year had just begun.
Laden with hope, Fijians firmly believe they are stronger than natural disasters.
BITTER ORDEAL
Jojivini Vuna, 90, has survived many cyclones in her house made of corrugated iron and timber in the village in Tailevu North, where she has almost spent a lifetime.
But in February, when Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston ravaged Fiji, Vuna's family moved her away from the cottage into her son's house made of concrete, as they felt the cyclone would have a more devastating effect on the older one.
Sure enough, the widow's cottage was blown away by strong winds brought about by Winston only a few hours after it landed on Fiji on Feb. 20.
The prediction proved to be correct. Winston not only destroyed her house, but also crops and everything else they rely on for their livelihood.
Food rations from the government started to flow in a few days later. Those rations of flour, tinned fish, biscuits, rice and sugar were enough to take them through the few weeks immediately after the monster cyclone.
"We just kept together as a family and shared meals to keep us going," Vuna, mother of nine, recounted.
Vuna's children have since moved her back to a makeshift house of corrugated iron sheets, where she lives with her 50-year-old single daughter, who takes care of her.
Vuna continues to ask for her house that was blown away, and her family keeps explaining that the government will be rebuilding her a new home soon.
DEADLY DESTRUCTION
A total of 44 people succumbed to the wrath of Winston, which left a path of massive devastation. With houses flattened, power lines down and water supply cut, a lot of people in rural areas had to bath in rivers.
With estimated wind speeds up to nearly 300 km per hour, Winston was the 11th Category 5 storm in the South Pacific Ocean since reliable records began in 1970, and it was one of the strongest storms ever seen in the Southern Hemisphere.
Images disseminated by the Fijian government showed devastation in the wake of the cyclone on some of Fiji's smaller outlying islands, such as Koro, Lau, Taveuni, and Rabi.
Fiji's two largest islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu were also affected as the cyclone swept across the southern part of Vanua Levu and the northern part of Viti Levu, where the country's only two cities, including the capital Suva, are located.
LIFE GOES ON
The damage bill from Winston is estimated at over 1 billion U.S. dollars.
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, the Fijian attorney-general and economy minister, said Winston's impact on the local economy is extensive.
A total of around 11 million U.S. dollars has been received by the Fijian government from foreign and local donors following the aftermath of Winston. The fund is used for food rations, drinking water and other relief supplies, as well as the rehabilitation and rebuild process.
On Feb. 22, China provided emergency humanitarian cash aid to the Fiji Red Cross Society, the first country to do so.
Aside from the cash donation, China, along with other countries such as Australia and New Zealand, also provided humanitarian aid supplies to Fiji, reaching out a badly needed helping hand.
Today, a lot of Fijians are still picking up the pieces and getting back to their feet. Progress in some areas remain slow as school children continue living in tents and villagers remain in makeshift homes.
Nevertheless, Fijians remain optimistic and hopeful, helping each other as life is reset and goes on.
The Fijian government, through village chiefs, has promised to rebuild Vuna's home. Vuna's family has filled in relevant forms and she, like many other families around the island nation, is happily looking forward to the day when she moves into her new home.
Fijians are stronger than Winston, as what Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says.
