FRIEND Fiji calling on govt to assist families in isolation

Almost 500 families in Lautoka and Nadi who are in isolation at the moment and cannot access food have been assisted with ration packs by FRIEND Fiji so far and calls are being made for the government to step in and assist people who are in isolation or cordoned off areas.

FRIEND Fiji Founder and CEO Sashi Kiran says about 100 packs were distributed in Nadi while the rest were distributed in the Lautoka containment zone.

Kiran says these are people who are stuck in their homes and cannot go out to buy groceries because of the restrictions in place.

She is urging the government to step in and assist these families because they are focusing on people who are really poor and have not been working since last year due to COVID-19.

She is calling on the government to allocate funds for these people.

Kiran adds they are constantly getting requests from struggling families who are in urgent need of assistance.

The Acting Permanent Secretary for Economy Shiri Gounder says they are working with the Ministry of Health to distribute food rations to people who are in isolation facilities or cordoned off areas.

Meanwhile, 70,000 families have been assisted with a total payout of $6.3 million through the $90 assistance program so far.

Gounder says 37,000 families have been assisted in the Nadi and Lautoka containment areas while 33,000 families have been assisted in Lami, Suva, Nasinu and Nausori.