We have sufficient packs for distribution for those that need emergency food supplies in Suva and Nausori lockdown area – Gounder

Acting Permanent Secretary for Economy, Shiri Gounder has assured Fijians in the lockdown areas that they have sufficient packs for distribution and if need be, more can be organised.

Fijians living in Suva and Nausori who genuinely require emergency food supply can put their request by dialing *161# where they must provide their name and other details including street address that will allow the Ministry to locate them quickly.

He says 100 personnel and 40 vehicles are dedicated for this exercise and depending on the need, more resources will be mobilised.

Gounder says this is multi-stakeholder operation that includes the Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Health, RFMF, Fiji Police Force, Fiji Corrections Service, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forests, the Land Transport Authority, Water Authority of Fiji, Vodafone, Digicel and many other stakeholders.

Gounder says as announced earlier, a number of proactive measures were undertaken to assist people living in the Suva and Nausori area to prepare for the lockdown.

He says these measures were put in place to ensure that people could prepare well before the lockdown and movement for ration distribution could then be limited to those that require emergency food supplies in the Suva – Nausori lockdown area.

The Acting Permanent Secretary says over the last week, around 118,000 families were assisted with the $90 cash assistance to buy groceries and other essentials which includes about 37,000 recipients in Nadi-Lautoka and 81,000 recipients in the Lami, Suva, Nasinu and Nausori area.

Gounder has also highlighted that those involved in the distribution exercise have been advised to strictly follow the COVID-19 safety protocols, including the wearing of masks, sanitisation, physical distancing and having careFiji app and bluetooth switched on at all times.