New Zealand church leaders request prayer for flood-hit Fiji

The Archbishops of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa New Zealand have appealed for prayer after Fiji was hit in the last week by the worst floods in decades.

Although the floodwaters are starting to subside, the death toll has risen to 11 and 9,000 people remain displaced from their homes. They are staying in churches and more than 130 emergency shelters set up across the South Pacific island nation.

"We encourage Christian communities everywhere to join in prayer each day for those most affected by this disaster,” said Archbishop Brown Turei, Bishop of Aotearoa, and Archbishop David Moxon, Senior Bishop of the New Zealand dioceses.

The flooding has caused tens of thousands of pounds worth to Fiji’s sugar farms, while bridges and roads have been damaged or completely destroyed. Many places, particularly in the worst-hit western region, remain without power or clean water.

Although the flooding showed signs of easing on Thursday, weather officials are advising people to stay away from coastal areas and warn of possible flash flooding.

"We pray daily for the safety of those closest to the rising waters, for the work of those contending with the many effects of this natural disaster, and for the role of the church in the midst of the flooded areas,” said the Archbishops.

Aid workers have reported a shortage of food, clean water, clothes and other basic items in the evacuation centres and there are concerns that the slow retreat of the waters could trigger an outbreak of diseases like malaria and dengue fever.

The Archbishops said they would continue praying for the situation and offer practical help in the clean-up stages.