Fiji Cyclone Ami --- Breaks And Mends The Heart Of Many

Calamities, disasters, tragedies, and catastrophic events always shatter the hearts of everyone. Much more if it is something that one can't control or don't have any hold, because there are always people who'll die, get hurt, and will suffer. Yet, every place experiences these, and every person feels the pain and loss; and still, everyone continues to move on, live and survive. Typhoons, tornadoes, floods, landslides, cyclones, tsunami, etc. strike one place after another because of environmental conditions that are caused intentionally and unintentionally by man. Despite all these devastating occurrences, there's something positive that comes out from it.

Fiji is not spared from all these, in Fiji Cyclone Ami visited one of Fiji's main islands Vanua Levi on the quiet dawn of 13 January 2003. It was one of the most tormenting tropical cyclones that the place ever had, thus the trauma and painful memories surely stayed for a long time in the hearts and minds of many. Though enough preparations were done, no one has expected the gravity of the strike that it has been a nightmare they lived and bore. Fiji Cyclone Ami has made a big unfriendly thunderous attack on the island that nothing can prepare the people for the worse. It swept the place clean --- flashed the houses, flattened the trees and posts, taken away lives, and left an island with no shelter, food, water, and basic needs.

But, however bad it was, no matter how many people suffered, and despite the number of lives lost, one still sees and feels the goodness of God through man. It is on these tragic occasions that the world becomes one --- helping the victims with their physical, social, and spiritual needs. People and countries from the far corners of the world sent their concern and support to the Fiji Cyclone Ami victims, through the relief goods, money, and prayers. It is the call of duty and humanity that one offers what one can give. Without the efforts of international groups and organizations who responded immediately, the Fiji Cyclone victims would not have survived the pain and would not have eased the burden of starting anew. It is understandable that the pain of losing may be irreparable but with the continuous outpouring effort and support by people all over the world, the burden of loss and hurt will lighten and lessen.

Fiji Cyclone Ami was an incident that Fijians will never forget, not just because of the destructive effects it left in their hearts, but more importantly, because of the big hearts of those who helped them.