Ministry to assist families who lost everything in fire
TWO families who lost all their belongings in a fire on Wednesday this week will be assisted by the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation.
Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Rosy Akbar was accompanied by a team of welfare officers to meet the affected families at Jittu Estate in Suva on Thursday whereby she committed the assistance of her ministry.
Ms Akbar learnt that Peni Bari and Viniana Adinaulu lost all their possessions to the fire.
During her visit, she also provided immediate food supplies to Mr Bari as per his request.
“Our aim is to provide immediate relief. We also understand that Mr Peni Bari is living with his 50-year-old daughter and Ms Viniana Adinaulu was staying with her parents and her child,” she said.
“By providing government assistance in such cases, we are doing our best to ease the family’s burden and offer comfort.
“We will look at all aspects and assist the families accordingly.”
She said Mr Bari would be assisted with the governmentfunded Fire Insurance claim as he is a beneficiary of the Social Pension Scheme.
“The other family is not on any of the welfare schemes; hence, they qualify to be assisted with the Fire Relief Assistance under my ministry.”
Mr Bari, 76, acknowledged Ms Akbar for her timely visit.
“Her visit brings relief to our family, we have requested if she can provide food and other immediate basic needs for our family. We acknowledge her presence and words of encouragement,” he said.
Meanwhile, the National Fire Authority and the Fiji
Police Force are preparing a report on the incident and they are working closely with the Department of Social Welfare which will aid the insurance applications for both the families.