Any kind of donation is appreciated, says Seruiratu

Any donation, be it food or construction materials, is always appreciated says, the Minister for Defence, National Security and Policing, Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Inia Seruiratu.

His comment follows after some non-government organisations suggested on social media that donors give housing materials instead of food rations because people need to rebuild their homes.

“Locals have also started giving building materials, but the bottom line is any donation, whether food or construction materials, is always appreciated,” the minister said. Mr Seruiratu has been in Vanua Levu since December 18, having regular meetings with other ministers and heads of Government departments daily at the Commissioner Northern’s office in Labasa. He has also been out in the field seeing things first-hand.

He said there were local and international donors and partners. “With international donors, regular meetings are done in Suva and what they provide is guided by request given by the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) and Foreign Affairs,” Mr Seruiratu said.

“Part of that donation also goes to the clusters.”

On food rations, he said most of the food given to people in the affected zones were from Government and local donors.

“We have no control over food given by local donors, but what is given by Government is driven by the damage assessments conducted,” he said.