CANBERRA—The Federal Government has offered Fiji aid to help deal with devastating floods that have stranded a huge number of tourists, including hundreds of Australians.
The Federal Government will provide $150,000 for areas along the western coast that are in a state of emergency following days of torrential rain.
Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith says the money will go to the Red Cross and Fiji's disaster management office.
Australia will also provide further assistance to Fiji if needed, despite its differences with the government led by Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama.
"We, of course, remain ready, willing and able to that should assistance be required," Mr Smith told reporters.
At least seven people have been killed in the storms, including a young girl, and more than 9,000 Fijians have been forced into emergency shelters.
Hundreds of Australian tourists remain stranded at their resorts and in hotels around the tourist town of Nadi, where Fiji's international airport is located.
The floods have been receding and many key roads, including the road from Suva to Nadi airport, have been reopened to 4WD traffic.
But the nation's Disaster Management Office has urged tourists to stay put because of a backlog of people trying to leave Nadi and a shortage of hotel rooms in the area.
It is also warning another tropical depression resembling a cyclone is approaching the country and is likely to strike on Wednesday.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says more than 1,000 Australians are registered as holidaying in Fiji, but it is unknown how many are stranded in the storm affected areas.
DFAT says some travellers had been forced to stay at the airport overnight and two consular officials are based there to help.
Officials have been in contact with airlines flying between Australia and Fiji to see if additional flights can be arranged.
But Mr Smith said the real problem was the lack of access to the airport not the number of flights out.
"To date, the problem has been not flights in and out of the airport, it has been people getting access to the airport."
