Minister for Women, Children, and Social Protection, Sashi Kiran, is calling on people to feed those in need, assist the poor in our communities, and support people living with disabilities and senior citizens.
Kiran says kindness and compassion are much needed in today’s world, and they are grateful to everyone who contributes to supporting those in need.
She says welfare officers work with Police each week to try and find homes for those living on the streets and reunite them with their families.
Kiran adds that their teams have taken some of them back to their homes in the outer islands, Naitasiri, and Tailevu.
The Minister says the longer children stay on the streets, the higher the risk of them being exposed to drugs, HIV, STIs, and abuse.
She says they have found that some children come to town with their parents and get attracted to street life, while others who stay with relatives near cities roam the streets during the day and return home in the evenings or whenever they wish.
Kiran says some children run away from home after facing domestic violence, but welfare officers often locate their relatives and reunite them.
She says in cases where it is not safe, the children are placed in shelters and connected to education and employment opportunities.
Kiran adds that they deal with street dwellers daily and understand the challenges involved.
She says they cannot simply respond emotionally and keep feeding people all the time, but must do it in a coordinated manner to ensure those on the streets receive the full range of support services.
She says everyone has the right to dignity and must be provided with proper shelter and the necessities of life, and the Ministry is making every effort to do that.
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