Australia provides $35 million support to Fiji

Australia has provided $35 million support to help Fiji cope with the economic and social impacts brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The funds will be used to support initiatives such as the social welfare payments where $31 million will be allocated to the Poverty Benefit Scheme and $4 million will be directed towards budget support.

Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says they can now use the money which was earlier allocated for Social Welfare to provide assistance for those who have been affected by TC Yasa.

Sayed-Khaiyum says this funding is critical as government’s ability to raise revenue has already been deeply impacted by COVID-19.

Acting Australian High Commissioner to Fiji, Anna Dorney says Fiji has always recognized vulnerable people as critical to development.

Dorney says the impacts of COVID-19 has been further compounded by Tropical Cyclones Harold and Yasa.