Ra families seek urgent Govt aid as children swim across dangerous river

Families of Cavucavu and Namonamo settlements in Mataso, Ra are calling on the government to provide urgent assistance as there are children swimming across a river in dangerous conditions during bad weather conditions.

They are asking the government to either raise their bridge which has been a concern for several years or provide boats for their daily use.

A video taken by some villagers shows parents assisting their children to swim across a river by using a piece of bamboo.

While speaking to fijivillage News in Mataso, Mili Korovou says during the rainy season, parents have no other option but to assist their children in swimming across the river rather than being swept by flood waters.

She says most of the children in their settlement take a 45-minute walk to the first bridge while making their way to school, as most of them attend Bayly Memorial School and Mataso Primary School.

Korovou says to ensure their children pursue education without facing such hardships, they are pleading with the government to fix their bridge.

fijivillage News has sent questions to the Minister for Public Works Ro Filipe Tuisawau, the Minister for Rural Development and Disaster Management Sakeasi Ditoka and the Minister for Education Viliame Gavoka. They are yet to respond.