Humanitarian work must be apolitical – Seruiratu

Minister for Rural, Maritime Development and Disaster Management Inia Seruiratu says one of the key principles of humanitarian work is that it must be apolitical.

While opposing NFP MP, Pio Tikoduadua’s motion that Parliament approves $50 million from the COVID-19 support aid funds provided by the Governments of New Zealand and Australia to be disbursed as income support to the unemployed and affected small and medium enterprises, Seruiratu says in the arrangement within government, the point of contact and coordination point for all NGO’s and CSO’s in Fiji that want to be part of humanitarian work, is the Fiji Council of Social Services.

He further says it is unfortunate most of the NGO’s and CSO’s that have just come lately into the country do not want to align themselves to the Fiji Council of Social Services.

Seruiratu says they welcome all NGO’s and CSO’s that want to be involved in humanitarian work but they have to through the Fiji Council of Social Services.

He says he has never seen some of the NGO’s and CSO’s on the ground during times of disaster.