Thanks for your donations: A-G
A lot of them came to give money. We told them we are not expecting cash but accepting the basic necessities of life, like clothes.
Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has acknowledged Fijians who turned up in numbers to donate clothes, beddings and other household items for flood victims.
He was at Nakasi Rups Complex, in Nasinu, the collection point for donated items.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said the country still faced adverse weather and its effects.
“We would like to thank Fiji Broadcasting Corporation and Rups … two companies which have collaborated in ensuring and creating awareness among members of the public that they can bring their clothes over here and give it to fellow Fijians,’’ he said
“A lot of them came to give money. We told them that we are not expecting cash but accepting the basic necessities of life, like clothes.’’ He noticed a lot of people had gone out, bought new clothes and donated them to the cause.
“We thank Golden Manufacturing Company which provided specifically marked cartons for this initiative,’’ Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said. “All the clothes are being packed as people come and drop them off in plastic bags, suitcases and garbage bags. There is a big task to sort it out.”
He said staff from the Ministry of Justice, his office and Solicitor-General’s office had spent the whole day yesterday going through the stock pile of clothes.
“We would like more and tomorrow is the last day on which people can bring more clothes. We urge people to come tomorrow.”
He said it was important for Fijians to understand and appreciate the enormous difficulties that other fellow Fijians have gone through during the floods. Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said calls from Fijians in Australia who wanted to contribute items were also received yesterday and an arrangement with Fiji’s trade mission in Sydney was made.
He said anyone who wanted to contribute in Australia could drop off those items with the Fijian trade mission in Sydney which would be the sole collection point. Items would be put in a container and shipped across to Fiji. Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said as soon as the weather cleared relief teams would start distributing the donated items.
“The RFMF has been the driving force in the distribution logistics. They are the ones who have been delivering various food ration packs that the Government has provided.
“We have been already distributed over 15,000 packs in the Western Division and some packs have been delivered in the Labasa area,’’ he said.
“That will continue to happen and we are working together with the RFMF to carry out the deliveries of those items.”