PM announces CARE for Fiji programme to help cyclone affected families

The Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has announced Cyclone Assistance Relief Effort for Fiji, which is a programme that cuts across government ministries and departments to aid those Fijians impacted by the back‑to‑back onslaughts of Tropical Cyclones Josie and Keni.

Bainimarama says the CARE for Fiji initiative are a host of new Government initiatives covering affected Fijians in Homes‑Care, Farms‑Care, Sugercane‑Care, Leaseholders‑Care, Welfare‑Care and eTransport‑Care.

He says the first round of assistance under these initiatives will go directly towards affected Fijians living in Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.

Bainimarama says while they are still assessing the full extent of the damage, it is abundantly clear that there is a need of an immediate programme of assistance to help Fijians recover from these events.

He says under Homes‑Care, households with an annual income of under $50,000 who have lost items in their homes or whose homes were damaged or destroyed in the cyclones can apply to receive prepaid electronic cards to purchase materials to repair their homes and replace possessions that were lost or badly damaged.

Bainimarama says that Fijians whose homes suffered minor water damage and who had some possessions lost or damaged can apply to receive $1,000 in assistance to make any repairs and replace their lost or damaged possessions.

He says those Fijians under vakavanua arrangements are eligible for $1,500 in relief assistance if their homes were severely damaged or destroyed and if only their possessions were damaged, they are eligible to receive $1,000 in assistance.

The Prime Minister has also announced that government will be assisting leaseholders on iTaukei and State land with an annual household income of under $50,000 who were affected by the recent cyclones under the Leaseholders‑Care programme.

Bainimarama says for affected areas in Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, Fijians who are leasing iTaukei or State land for residential or agricultural purposes, government will pay 12 months of your due lease payment.

He says the government will also be aiding all the farmers through two new relief programme which is the Sugercane‑Cane and Farms‑Care.

Bainimarama has also announced Welfare‑Care and eTransport‑Care for the benefits of the Fijians affected by these storms.

The Prime Minister has also reiterated that help is on the way for families that have been severely impacted by TC Josie or TC Keni.