Single mother struggling to survive after Flea Market fire

Almost a month after the devastation caused by the fire at Suva Flea Market, some vendors still have no source of income and are struggling to make ends meet.

Tailasa Rureni who was a tailor at the market says her three machines and all sewing materials were destroyed in the fire and she is now finding it very hard to survive.

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Rureni says being a single mother and having to provide for her 1-year old son and her mother, her sewing business was her only source of income. She says times were already hard before the fire due to the COVID-19 pandemic but now it is difficult to even put food on the table on some days.

Rureni says she is grateful to some relatives who have provided her with financial support to pay her rent and some other expenses but it is not enough.

She adds they have applied for the government’s small business loan assistance and hopes to buy at least one sewing machine that can help her get back on her feet.